photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Sherron Collins puts up a three-pointer over Oklahoma guard Willie Warren during the second half at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon in Norman, Okla.

Tom, what memories do you have of KU’s last game at Oklahoma — an 87-78 Jayhawks’ win?

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2009/feb/23/23388/

Tom Keegan: Willie Warren and Sherron Collins dueling banging down jumpers shot from deep, deeper, deepest. 

JN: Whatever happened to Willie Warren anyway?

TK: Last I heard Willie Warren was playing for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBADL. He got in some games for the Clippers and was assigned to the D-League. It goes to show you how delusional young players are about how difficult it is to stick in the NBA, especially for guards. Warren was outstanding at times as a freshman, bad as a sophomore. He should have stayed put, figured out what made him get worse instead of better, and finished his college career with at the very least one real good season. 

And then there’s Collins, who had a great four-year career, had trouble keeping his weight down in the offseason, didn’t do himself any favors with NBA scouts by not showing up for the Kansas team banquet and goes undrafted.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Sherron Collins puts up a three-pointer over Oklahoma guard Willie Warren during the second half at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

He gained a reprieve when owner Michael Jordan and coach Larry Brown gave him a shot with the Charlotte Bobcats. He seldom got off the bench and was released the other day. He couldn’t get himself into the sort of shape he got into between trips home to Chicago, where he tended to pack on pounds quickly, when at KU. Strength and conditioning coach Andrea Hudy’s constant attention enabled Collins to get into shape, but he didn’t get that sort of attention in the NBA. I wish the Cavs would give him a shot. He sort of owes them for marketing the organization by wearing a Cavs cap in Allen Fieldhouse while employed by the Charlotte Bobcats. 

JN: Looking at this year’s KU team, what do you think Elijah Johnson needs to do to keep the point-guard job?

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson, left, gets a slap on the back of the head from teammate Tyshawn Taylor and a high five from Royce Woolridge after coming out of the game against Oklahoma State on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

TK: Keep the ball moving and stop the opposing point guards from penetrating. If he can do that against Oklahoma and Texas A&M he’ll earn a test that will be more intense than just about anything KU will face in the tourney: Facing the Missouri pressure in Columbia. Feed him to the Tigers and see what he can do.

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

TK: Kansas 82, Oklahoma 63. I don’t have great recall so maybe that’s why I can’t recall a more anonymous team than the 2010-2011 Sooners during my six years covering Big 12 basketball. Or maybe I can’t remember one because there hasn’t been one.

JN: I’ll go KU by 21.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris delivers a dunk on the Oklahoma State defense during the second half on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

I’m not expecting a tough road atmosphere at Lloyd Noble Center, and effiency-wise, the Sooners have had the worst Big 12 offense since conference play has started. OU’s only hope of staying close will be to play at its typical slow tempo (and perhaps even slower) while having a phenomenal shooting night. I don’t see it happening. KU beat better teams in Texas Tech and Nebraska on the road by at least 20. I see the same type of blowout happening on Saturday.

JN: OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Tyrel Reed.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed (14) chases down a loose ball with teammate Josh Selby and Oklahoma State guard Roger Franklin (32) during the first half on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s having a great senior year and the road doesn’t faze him in the slightest.

JN: Oklahoma is one of the nation’s worst offensive rebounding teams, meaning Markieff Morris should be able to rack up the defensive rebounds quickly.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Markieff Morris battles for a rebound with Oklahoma State defenders Keiton Page and Jarred Shaw (1) during the second half on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Sooners also have the most trouble defensively inside, as Big 12 teams have made 52 percent of their two-point attempts against OU (second-worst defensive percentage in conference).

This is a game set up for KU’s bigs to succeed, so look for Markieff to notch a double-double against the overmatched OU forwards.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 28 games)
Tom: 24-4 record, 327 points off (11.7 points off/game)
Jesse: 26-2 record, 346 points off (12.4 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)
Colorado: Marcus Morris (3rd)
Oklahoma State: Marcus Morris (1st)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.5th 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)
Colorado: Josh Selby (6th)
Oklahoma State: Elijah Johnson (2nd)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.4th in Keegan ratings