A GAME THAT SAYS WE ARE HERE & HERE TO STAY THIS YEAR

FACTS & STATS: Site: Mizzou Arena (15,061) -- Columbia, Missouri. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Kansas 14-1, Missouri 14-0. Away Record: Kansas 4-2, Missouri 4-2. Neutral Record: Kansas 1-1, Missouri 2-2. Conference Record: Kansas 8-0, Missouri 7-2. Series Record: Kansas leads, 166-93.

GAME NOTES: The 16th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will attempt to remain perfect in Big 12 Conference play tonight as they take on a dangerous 17th-rated Missouri squad in Columbia.

Kansas is riding an eight-game win streak, and all of those victories have come over league foes. The Jayhawks are now 19-4 overall, and their most recent triumph came over Oklahoma State on Saturday in a 78-67 final. A much- anticipated battle with Oklahoma will not occur until February 23rd, so it seems unlikely that Bill Self's Kansas squad will look past Missouri tonight.

Speaking of the Tigers, they cruised to an 82-68 victory over Iowa State on Saturday to clinch their first 20-win season in six years. They are an impressive 20-4 overall, including 7-2 in league play, and the last three outings have resulted in victory. Head coach Mike Anderson has to be considered a strong contender for Big 12 Coach of the Year honors at this point, and a victory this evening would clearly help that cause.

Kansas owns a 166-93 series lead over Missouri, and the Jayhawks won both meetings a year ago.

Sherron Collins is one of the only players on the current Kansas roster who played a key role in the team's national championship run a year ago. Collins figured to emerge as the go-to guy on the court this season, and the fact that he is averaging 18.0 ppg suggests that he hasn't disappointed the fans or coaches. He is also dishing out 5.0 apg, and many of the assists have gone to center Cole Aldrich, who is racking up 14.6 ppg and 10.2 rpg while posting 58 blocked shots. The Jayhawks are scoring 77.9 ppg while limiting opponents to 64.8 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from the field. Against Oklahoma State on Saturday, Mario Little paced a balanced KU attack with 13 points off the bench. Aldrich, Collins and Tyshawn Taylor added 12 points apiece, and Aldrich ripped down 18 rebounds as well. The Jayhawks limited the Cowboys to 35.4 percent shooting from the floor while also earning a 46-33 rebounding edge.

Like Kansas, Missouri has a pair of big-time performers in the lineup. DeMarre Carroll leads the team in scoring with 17.3 ppg, and he is shooting 58.1 percent from the floor to go along with 7.0 rpg. As for Leo Lyons, he provides 14.6 ppg on 51.9 percent field goal efficiency. Those two players do get plenty of help from a solid supporting cast, and the Tigers are racking up 84.2 ppg while limiting opponents to 66.5 ppg. Carroll exploded for a career- high 31 points in the victory over Iowa State on Saturday, and he also pulled down nine boards while dishing out five assists. Kim English added 16 points, and Lyons finished with 12 points. Mizzou connected on 57.4 percent of its field goal attempts and racked up 28 assists against only nine turnovers. The team won easily despite a 3-of-8 showing from the foul line.

MISSOURI LOOKING TO BUILD A PROGRAM WITH MIKE ANDERSON ( I DO NOT SEE A LET DOWN TONIGHT)

GO TIGERS!