Sunday was a huge step forward for Illinois (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten) on multiple fronts. An 80-77 win over Missouri in the team's annual Braggin' Rights game was the headline, but the subtext was infinitely more important. Against the Tigers (10-2, 0-0 SEC), the ...

Illinois players Kylan Boswell (4), Morez Johnson Jr. (21), Tre White (22) and Ben Humrichous (3) gather during the Illini's 80-77 win against Missouri on Sunday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. / University of Illinois

Illinois athletics Kasparas Jakucionis defends during Sunday’s Braggin’ Rights game against Missouri at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Jakucionis scored a game-high 21 points, including the game-winning jump shot, to lift the Illini to an 80-77 win.

Two weekends ago, when Missouri had a chance to knock off the No. 1 team in the nation in a home game, the Tigers came through with a nine-point win

One thing we know for sure is that Illinois is better than Missouri at basketball. Unless, you know, it's the other way around. There's really only one way to settle it: the annual Braggin' Rights game.