So, having gotten this game out of the way, here is my question. Should we (or rather, the Illini) really continue with the Braggin' Rights game with Missouri? Or should the Illini start looking for a better Braggin' Rights rival (and I don't mean start playing a different team in St. Louis)? I ask this hypothetically since I doubt there is any plan in the near future to discontinue the game. And there still seems to be a lot of passion from the fans. And there is an argument to be made about playing a game in St. Louis (not to mention the money that comes into St. Louis from fans,etc.). But let me elucidate. The following is just a jumble of random thoughts hoping to support this proposal.
First, Illinois is pretty much dominating the series. Not as much as I wish as it seems that the lesser team often wins anyway (Illinois should have won last year). There are two w/l statistics. There is the total w/l record of 33-19 (63%) but that includes games going all the way back to 1932. The official Braggin' Rights games started in 1980. Since that time the Illini lead the series 26-15 (63%). It could be argued to include the games played every year from 1976 to 1979 which probably engendered the Braggin' Rights creation in the first place. If those are included the w/l record is 28-17 (62%). I think that winning almost 2 out of every 3 games is dominance. (hopefully I did the math correctly).
Second, Illinois is arguably just a bigger basketball college than Missouri. I haven't done the research but I guess that Illinois has more NCAA tournament appearances, wins, conference titles, etc. It is one of the top 20 (maybe even top 10) winningest (is that a word) basketball programs ever (I think I read that somewhere). Missouri just isn't in the same class overall as Illinois.
Third, Norm Stewart. It seems that the series was at its best during the Norm Stewart years (1976 to 1998). During the years he coached Missouri the w/l record was 13-9, not much better for Missouri, Illinois still dominated (59%) but there seemed to be more intensity, more hype, more at stake than just winning the game. After Stewart left, Missouri fell on hard times for the most part. We had the Groce years but Illinois has recovered from those dark times while Missouri is in a death spiral (citing Rob McColley article).
Fourth Media. Weren't those early games nationally televised? I think one can see how the importance of this game fell as the years went on from being a big game on national tv to now being shown on BTN (in fact, wasn't it only available on BTN+ one year?). I am not sure if Missouri fans could even see the game yesterday if they did not have BTN.
And finally, take a look at Rob McColley article especially the last paragraph. He doesn't come right out and say it but you can kind of read between the lines.
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-88-missouri-63-postgame.27659/
So with the Illini's dominance, the different traditions at both schools, the gradual lessening of the importance of this game perhaps Illinois should look elsewhere for a "Braggin' Rights" rival. I have no idea who but maybe something like playing Kentucky in Louisville (that would probably irk Louisville fans). Or maybe playing Louisville. Just putting those out as examples. I imagine that Kentucky might consider us the way I rate Missouri to Illinois.
Just my 2 cents