All Mizzou Tigers want for Christmas is basketball, football victories: SportsBeat pod

The run-up to Christmas provides Missouri Tigers athletics with a couple of high-profile contests, and we talk about both on today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Kansas City Star’s daily sports podcast.Star columnist Vahe Gregorian previews Thursday’s Braggin’ Rights men’s basketball game against Illinois and then shifts gears for a look at Mizzou’s bowl game against Wake Forest on Friday.Missouri and the Demon Deacons meet on the gridiron for the first time. It’s a strength-on-strength matchup featuring the Tigers’ defense against Wake’s high-flying offense. But Mizzou’s going to be missing some key defenders who’ve opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft or enter the transfer portal.In basketball, Missouri (10-1) is coming off a thrilling victory over Central Florida in which DeAndre Gholston banked in a 35-footer to beat the buzzer for the victory. The Illinois game is the start of three straight for the Tigers against ranked opponents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices