photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas players Travis Releford, bottom front, Niko Roberts, right, Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor go wild as center Jeff Withey is fouled on a dunk during the second half against Howard on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on North Dakota on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Matt, if the KU basketball team had a New Year’s resolution, what do you think it should be?

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas players Travis Releford, bottom front, Niko Roberts, right, Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor go wild as center Jeff Withey is fouled on a dunk during the second half against Howard on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Matt Tait: Maybe making sure that the locker room is always stocked with plenty of 5-hour Energy? It’s no secret that the key for this year’s team is energy and focus. When the Jayhawks bring it, they can play with anybody and have looked pretty good. When they don’t, they’ve looked very average.

With conference play right around the corner, I don’t think getting up for games will be a problem for most of these guys. But with the extra two games added to this year’s conference slate, making sure they’re ready, mentally, for the 18-game grind is an absolute must. Strong leadership, partly from Bill Self, but more from one of the team’s key players, would go a long way toward making sure KU is ready for what’s ahead.

JN: You could definitely see a difference in the energy level during KU’s game Thursday against Howard.

Right after Jeff Withey’s alley-oop to start the game, each of the Jayhawks on the floor appeared to be trying extra hard to pump each other up.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, center, celebrates with center Jeff Withey, left, and Tyshawn Taylor after Withey's dunk to start the game against Howard on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

It seemed to work as well, as KU played with extra bounce after a flat game against USC.

Speaking of the Howard game, Matt, what is one positive and one negative you saw from KU following the Jayhawks’ 89-34 blowout Thursday?

MT: The one positive was the play of KU’s inexperienced bench guys.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas players Kevin Young, front, and Conner Teahan chase a loose ball with Howard forward Alphonso Leary during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse. At left is KU forward Justin Wesley.

The starters were great. But against a team like Howard, they should be expected to be great. The bench guys — Naadir Tharpe, Kevin Young, Justin Wesley and Conner Teahan — are more of an unknown and to see them give the kind of effort they gave, from start to finish in an absolute blowout, was very encouraging. The one negative? When Olivia Wilde left the building. That was tough to handle.

photo by: Nick Krug

Actor and Kansas native Jason Sudeikis shoots a picture of the Kansas huddle next to his guest, actress Olivia Wilde, during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

JN: Ha. Fair enough.

I still think Self would like to see more from Tharpe against North Dakota.

Will the freshman be able to stick with his man defensively? Can he not get caught up in on-ball screens? Can he knock down an open three if it’s there? (Tharpe is just 1-for-12 from deep this year.) Can he limit his turnovers and make hard plays look easy instead of making easy plays look difficult?

Howard wasn’t the best of competition, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Tyshawn Taylor played one of his best games when he didn’t have to stay out there for extended minutes.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor pulls up for a three pointer from the corner over Howard forward Mike Phillips during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

KU needs Tharpe to step up, and this could be one of his last chances to show that he deserves more minutes the rest of this season.

OK, Matt, what’s your prediction for this game?

MT: Seems like this one ought to be another great opportunity for KU’s bench to gain some confidence and experience. North Dakota has given up more points than it has scored and is shooting just 43.7 percent from the floor. I’d expect that number to drop into the 30s and for Kansas to cruise once again. KU 84, ND 50.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas center Jeff Withey throws down an alley-oop dunk over Howard forward Oliver Ellison during the first half Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

JN: Give me KU by 41.

North Dakota is an interesting team in that it has lost to some really bad teams by double figures (Idaho State, Sacramento State), yet it has a 19-point home victory over a strong South Dakota State team that has an All-America candidate in guard Nate Wolters.

After closer examination, though, it just looks like a dramatic home-road split. The Fighting Sioux are 5-1 at home, but 0-6 on the road.

This one won’t be played at the Sioux Center, so I don’t like North Dakota’s chances. I’ll take KU in another rout.

All right, Matt, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

MT: Let’s go with Elijah Johnson.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson yells out to the defense as he defends against Howard guard Calvin Thompson during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He was decent in 22 minutes against Howard on Thursday, but he would have been better if his shot was falling. I’m guessing it will be this game, and Johnson could approach 20 points in limited minutes.

JN: I’ll take fellow sharpshooter Conner Teahan.

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/dec/29/35289/

North Dakota’s opponents have made 43 percent of their three-pointers this year, meaning for the second straight game, Teahan should find himself with lots of room on the perimeter. The senior has made an impressive 16 of 32 three-point attempts (50 percent) at Allen Fieldhouse this year.

Predictions tally (through 12 games)
Tom: 9-3 record, 130 points off (10.8 points off/game)
Jesse: 11-1 record, 102 points off (8.5 points off/game)

Hawk to Rock

Tom Keegan
Towson: Tyshawn Taylor (4th in Keegan ratings)
Kentucky: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Georgetown: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
UCLA: Tyshawn Taylor (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Duke: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
FAU: Jeff Withey (4th in Keegan ratings)
South Florida: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Long Beach State: Elijah Johnson (7th in Keegan ratings)
Ohio State: Thomas Robinson (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Davidson: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
USC: Jeff Withey (4th in Keegan ratings)
Howard: Kevin Young (4th in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.2nd in Keegan ratings

Jesse Newell
Towson: Conner Teahan (6th in Keegan ratings)
Kentucky: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
Georgetown: Kevin Young (9th in Keegan ratings)
UCLA: Elijah Johnson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Duke: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
FAU: Tyshawn Taylor (7th in Keegan ratings)
South Florida: Elijah Johnson (6th in Keegan ratings)
Long Beach State: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Ohio State: Travis Releford (5th in Keegan ratings)
Davidson: Jeff Withey (5th in Keegan ratings)
USC: Elijah Johnson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Howard: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.9th in Keegan ratings