Colorado guard Alec Burks pulls up for a three-pointer over Kansas guard Elijah Johnson during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

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

Tom, what do you like most about Colorado guard Alec Burks’ skill set?

photo by: Nick Krug

Colorado guard Alec Burks pulls up for a three-pointer over Kansas guard Elijah Johnson during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

Tom Keegan: Everything. He can shoot, blow by guys on the dribble, hit guarded shots and he’s just a real smooth athlete.

JN: Kansas’ biggest challenge against him Saturday will be trying to keep him off the free throw line.

Burks’ is 23rd nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (7.3), and the Jayhawks’ guards have been prone to fouling opposing guards this entire season.

In Burks’ first game against KU, he made it to the free-throw line 11 times. No other Buffalo made it to the stripe more than twice.

Not only do the Jayhawks have to cut off his drives, they also have to do so without picking up whistles. Burks, an 84.5-percent free-throw shooter, should test KU’s defenders all afternoon.

The Jayhawks, meanwhile, are playing Colorado for the second time this season following a loss. Tom, which KU player do you believe is most likely to have a bounceback performance after a tough game at Kansas State?

TK: Probably Markieff Morris.

Kansas forward Markieff Morris (21) shoots against Colorado forward Austin Dufault (33) during the first half Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, in Boulder, Colo.

He has a lot of pride, is coming off a tough game in which he didn’t get a rebound and is among the most improved players in the Big 12, so look for him to have a big day.

JN: Markieff had such a big lead in the Big 12 rebounding race that even after failing to grab a rebound against KSU, he still leads the conference by a half rebound a game over Iowa State’s Jake Anderson (8.2 to 7.7).

The Buffs don’t have many big bodies inside, and Markieff had a game-high 11 rebounds in the two teams’ previous matchup. If he stays out of foul trouble Saturday, he could easily reach double figures in rebounding again.

All right, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?

TK: Kansas 90, Colorado 79.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed drives around Colorado guard Cory Higgins during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

Two teams that are hard to stop usually equates to an entertaining game and this ought to be one.

JN: I’ll go KU by eight.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Burks and teammate Cory Higgins are huge matchup problems for KU. The two guards can drive and shoot and should both post good offensive numbers against KU.

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor fouls Colorado guard Alec Burks (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, in Boulder, Colo.

The Buffs also can shoot from long range, as they made 9 of 13 threes against KU (69.2 percent) in the first matchup this year. CU actually leads the Big 12 in three-point shooting in conference play, making 40.8 percent of its shots from beyond the arc.

CU will stay close because of its offense but lose because of its defense. If the Jayhawks avoid turnovers and get back to the ball movement they had before the Kansas State game, they should be able to outscore the Buffaloes just like they did in Boulder.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Marcus Morris.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris turns to the bench as the Kansas State student section goes wild late in the second half on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Jayhawks were upset by the Wildcats, 84-68.

He doesn’t take losses lightly and will be jacked up to put the Kansas State game in the past.

JN: I’ll go with Josh Selby.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Josh Selby runs over Colorado guard Cory Higgins on a drive in the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. Selby was called for a charge on the play.

The freshman’s athleticism should be useful defensively against CU’s quick guards, as he might be one of KU’s best options against Burks or Higgins.

Selby also had 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting in the teams’ first meeting, and though he’s still limited with his foot injury, this just feels like the type of high-scoring game where he could thrive.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 26 games)
Tom: 22-4 record, 299 points off (11.5 points off/game)
Jesse: 24-2 record, 316 points off (12.2 points off/game)

Hawk to Rock

Tom Keegan
Longwood: Tyrel Reed (6th in Keegan ratings)
Valparaiso: Marcus Morris (1st)
North Texas: Tyrel Reed (6th)
Texas A&M-CC: Marcus Morris (5th)
Ohio: Markieff Morris (3rd)
Arizona: Marcus Morris (1st)
UCLA: Tyshawn Taylor (1st)
Memphis: Markieff Morris (4th)
Colorado State: Tyshawn Taylor (2nd)
USC: Tyrel Reed (6th)
Cal: Marcus Morris (6th)
UT Arlington: Tyrel Reed (8th)
Miami: Marcus Morris (3rd)
UMKC: Markieff Morris (9th)
Michigan: Thomas Robinson (8th)
Iowa State: Tyshawn Taylor (7th)
Nebraska: Josh Selby (9th)
Baylor: Josh Selby (3rd)
Texas: Marcus Morris (3rd)
Colorado: Markieff Morris (5th)
Kansas State: Marcus Morris (4th)
Texas Tech: Markieff Morris (4th)
Nebraska: Mario Little (7th)
Missouri: Tyrel Reed (7th)
Iowa State: Markieff Morris (2nd)
Kansas State: Brady Morningstar (2nd)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.7th in Keegan ratings

Jesse Newell
Longwood: Markieff Morris (1st in Keegan ratings)
Valparaiso: Brady Morningstar (8th)
North Texas: Tyrel Reed (6th)
Texas A&M-CC: Thomas Robinson (2nd)
Ohio: Tyshawn Taylor (4th)
Arizona: Brady Morningstar (8th)
UCLA: Markieff Morris (6th)
Memphis: Thomas Robinson (1st)
Colorado State: Markieff Morris (1st)
USC: Thomas Robinson (2nd)
Cal: Markieff Morris (2nd)
UT Arlington: Brady Morningstar (10th)
Miami: Tyshawn Taylor (8th)
UMKC: Josh Selby (1st)
Michigan: Tyrel Reed (4th)
Iowa State: Marcus Morris (1st)
Nebraska: Thomas Robinson (3rd)
Baylor: Tyshawn Taylor (6th)
Texas: Josh Selby (8th)
Colorado: Jeff Withey (7th)
Kansas State: Tyrel Reed (8th)
Texas Tech: Thomas Robinson (1st)
Nebraska: Tyrel Reed (5th)
Missouri: Markieff Morris (3rd)
Iowa State: Brady Morningstar (4th)
Kansas State: Marcus Morris (4th)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.4th in Keegan ratings