Missouri-Kansas - Perfect pairing for final game at Hearnes

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Kansas-Missouri rivalry has extra spice this season. Sunday's game also is the finale at the Hearnes Center.

The pomp surrounding the swan song of the 32-year-old arena -- including an appearance by longtime coach Norm Stewart, former Gov. Warren Hearnes and most of the 1993-94 team that went unbeaten in the Big Eight -- just makes a game that usually brings out the best in the Tigers that much more dangerous for the No. 21 Jayhawks.

"I just think it's going to be a great game," Kansas senior foward Jeff Graves said. "I wouldn't expect anything less.

"I think it's like the movie 'Any Given Sunday,' anybody can win it."

There's so much surrounding the game that Missouri might have to guard against getting overly excited. They'll be counseled not to lose track of the bottom line, namely the chance to grab the fourth seed and a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament.

"There's so many different ways you could bill this game, whether it's senior day or tournament implications, the closing of the Hearnes Center," coach Quin Snyder said. "I think all those things, although they are noteworthy and special, our primary focus as players and staff has to be on actually playing the game.

"I think that's very important for us to participate to whatever extent in those things, but also to know the best thing we can do to make this day a special day is to play well and win."

Through the years, that hasn't been a problem at home for Missouri against the Jayhawks. Kansas swept the home-and-home series last year, but in the last several seasons the Hearnes has been a tough place for the Jayhawks (19-7, 11-4 Big 12).

In a six-season span beginning in 1996, Kansas lost at Missouri while ranked third, first, third, 19th, seventh and third. In 1997, the year the Jayhawks were No. 1 and lost, Missouri finished 16-17.

Missouri is 405-71 overall at the Hearnes, including 60-13 in five years under Snyder. The Tigers can only hope that stretch of dominance continues at the $75 million arena, as yet unnamed, due to open this fall.

Kansas coach Bill Self is in his first season, so none of that means much to him. Then again, the way Missouri (15-11, 9-6) was playing before a loss at Texas Tech on Wednesday is enough to worry about.

"They have been as good as anyone in our league the last three weeks, Oklahoma State included," Self said. "They are capable of playing at a very high level."

We anticipate them playing at a high level on Sunday."

Self has his own reasons for not missing the Hearnes, going back to career as a player and assistant coach at Oklahoma State and "we never won there."

"I'm a big believer that you have to take the energy of the visiting crowd and it should motivate you even more," Self said. "We have to be able to neutralize the crowd at some point and use their energy."

Before the Texas Tech loss, Missouri had won six in a row. The Tigers have a six-game winning streak at home and are coming off their biggest victory of the season, a double-overtime triumph over Oklahoma State last week.

In the last three weeks, Missouri has done a lot to rescue what had been looking like a lost season. Now, the Tigers will try to close the Hearnes in style in, barring an NIT bid, will be the final game for senior starters Arthur Johnson, Rickey Paulding and Travon Bryant, as well as backup guard Josh Kroenke. Those four are 50-8 at home.

"There were times this year where I decided, no matter what happens, I'm just going to enjoy my team because I'm not going to have a chance to coach those four guys," Snyder said. "They are terrific guys."

Johnson isn't ready for the end, yet.

"I try not to think about it," he said. "I try to think about the Big 12 tournament and adding games to it."

Kansas is coming off its 21st straight successful senior night in a 78-67 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday, getting 22 points from Wayne Simien and riding a 16-0 second-half run. Simien is second in the Big 12 in scoring and third in rebounding.

"He is one of the more dominant players in the country right now, let alone our league," Snyder said. "He has really got a groove in his play, and he can score so many different ways.

"You don't find too many college guys that can score over the top of you from the post."