Show Me Classic

Posted on: June 2, 2020 at 11:56:11 CT

From 1973-74 to 1983-84 (and again once in 1987-88) MU hosted a preseason tournament called the Show Me Classic. It was held in Columbia, very close to the beginning of the season as preseason tournaments we participate in now are. The NCAA now prohibits such competitions via their stupid scheduling restrictions, but if they were forward thinking at all they would proactively encourage such tournaments to be rekindled in the early non-con to address exactly the type of instate rivalry scenario we are discussing below with SMS.

If on an annual basis MU could play the host to SMS, SLU, SEMO, UMKC, as well as other regional schools like ISU or KSU it would be a win/win for all involved. Interesting matchups/rivalries would be fostered, non-con schedules would be improved, smaller schools would get the chances they desperately seek, it would be easy for fans to travel to, and the host school could benefit from being the hub. The key being it not being IN PLACE of other preseason tournaments but IN ADDITION to, and instead replacing some of the completely absurd matchups that occur during the non-con between major conference programs and the dregs of D1.