Missouri head coach Dennis Gates yells the next play (copy) (copy)

Missouri coach Dennis Gates and the Tigers competed in NCAA Tournament play last March in St. Louis’ Enterprise Center, losing in the first round to Miami. Gates’ team is set to face Saint Louis in the same building Nov. 6, followed by renewals of the historic rivalry in 2027 and 2028 as well.

Lily Mantel/Missourian
Josh Schertz mug

Josh Schertz

courtesy of Saint Louis University Athletics

Two of Missouri’s most successful men’s basketball programs are set to share the court again after a quarter-century hiatus.

Missouri and Saint Louis announced Monday they will renew their long-dormant rivalry with a three-game series. The first is scheduled for Nov. 6 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, followed by games in both 2027 and 2028. The November matchup will mark the first meeting between the schools since the 2001 season.

The programs first met in 1931 and have played 40 times overall. Mizzou holds a narrow 21-19 advantage in the all-time series, but opportunities to add to that history have been rare in recent decades. The Tigers and Billikens have faced each other only three times since 1980, with Missouri claiming a 69-67 victory in the most recent meeting, on Dec. 3, 2001.

The revival comes at a time when both programs are enjoying some success.

The series came together after Dennis Gates reached out to Josh Schertz about bringing the rivalry back. Both coaches said renewing the matchup became a priority during their discussions.

“Rivalries are what make college basketball so special, and I couldn’t be more excited for the basketball fans in the state of Missouri, alumni and current students of both institutions to face off with Saint Louis,” Gates said in a release. “Coach Schertz and I recognized that it has been too many years since the last game, and we made it a priority from our very first conversation to get this matchup across the finish line. We look forward to Enterprise Center hosting one of college basketball’s most anticipated games during the opening week.”

Schertz echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the significance of restoring a series that has been largely absent from the state’s basketball calendar for decades.

“Today’s announcement is not just a win for both basketball programs but for basketball fans across the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri as well,” Schertz said. “We know the incredible history of this matchup, and I am glad that Coach Gates agrees that this is the perfect time in both programs’ trajectories to rekindle the series.”

Missouri reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament, finishing 20-13 overall and 10-8 in Southeastern Conference play under Gates. The Tigers earned a No. 10 seed before their season ended with a first-round loss to Miami.

Saint Louis is coming off one of the strongest seasons in school history. Under Schertz, the Billikens finished 29-6 overall and captured the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship with a 15-3 league record. Saint Louis advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a dominant victory over Georgia before falling to eventual national champion Michigan.

The series also reflects Missouri’s effort to strengthen its nonconference schedule. With the NCAA Tournament expanding to 76 teams next year, quality opponents outside conference play are increasingly important for teams seeking a berth or a higher seed.

For decades, Enterprise Center has hosted major college basketball events, including the first two rounds of last March’s madness and Mizzou’s Braggin’ Rights showdowns with Illinois. It will be designated a neutral venue for the MU matchup since SLU plays its home games at nearby Chaifetz Arena.

Early projections for both teams are promising in 2027. Mizzou has one of the nation’s best recruiting classes incoming, and SLU returns its core talent outside departing senior center Robbie Avila. The November showdown could provide an early measuring stick for two programs with postseason aspirations.