It was a brilliant idea many years ago to schedule this Border War game for every season. Wisconsin... Iowa... Indiana... yearly conference foes in border States with a long Illini matchup history. But with Missouri not being a conference team it is always special to play them with the long border Illinois shares with that State and the unique position of St. Louis straddling the big river with a metro area of the two States and the inherent rivalries involved.
Lots of good ballers always coming out of St. Louis City and Metro East. Talent-rich over the years. And of course, the dramas of the two programs and the games that have been played over the years and the undercurrents and intrigue.
And having this game just before Christmas just always adds another layer of fun to it all.
Next up... set up a yearly game like this with Kentucky. That other border State. No big enough city to hold that one on that other river, so make it a yearly home-and-home trade off. And of course... beat them SOUNDLY.