Thomas Robinson goes over Nebraska's Jorge Brian Diaz in the second half on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Note: Josh Selby will not play in the Nebraska game because of an injury, so Tom Keegan has changed his Hawk to Rock to Mario Little.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.

Tom, after watching Nebraska put a scare into KU last month (63-60), what impressed you about the Cornhuskers’ defense that day?

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Thomas Robinson goes over Nebraska's Jorge Brian Diaz in the second half on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Tom Keegan: They know how to clog the paint. It seems as if there are always a couple of bodies wherever the ball is. And it helps that one of the bodies is really, really big.
JN: Nebraska’s defense doesn’t make it easy to shoot twos, that’s for sure. Opponents are making just 41.7 percent of their twos against the Huskers this year, which is eighth nationally.

After last game, I remember NU coach Doc Sadler talking about how KU had gotten too many paint touches against his team — something that his assistants track. It’s almost like Sadler plays defense like smart people play Checkers — by never moving his back players off the final row.

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Kansas forward Markieff Morris snags a rebound late in the second half Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

If you’re going to make shots against Nebraska, you’re almost certainly going to have to make them over an outstretched hand. Not many folks get behind the Huskers’ big men.

Switching back to KU, Thomas Robinson has been the top player in the Keegan Ratings the last two games. In your eyes, what’s something he’s improved on recently that has allowed him to play so well?

TK: To use an old Phog Allen phrase that former KU player/assistant coach Jerry Waugh told me about, he seems to be “pausing for poise.” He would hurry himself into mistakes so often in the past and he seems to be cutting down on those. Bill Self and company do such a good job of identifying the right post players to pursue and Danny Manning and company do such a good job of developing them. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re playing against other big guys daily in practice.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson put in a bucket against Texas Tech on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011 in Lubbock, Texas.

JN: You’d have to guess that Robinson leads the Jayhawks in traveling calls this year, which wouldn’t be expected from a big man. As you said, though, he’s been much better with turnovers lately, giving it away just once in his last 49 minutes.

Robinson does many other things well when he’s on the court, including rebounding on both ends, providing energy and drawing fouls.

When he’s not turning it over, he’s a tremendous asset. Lately, he hasn’t been turning it over, which has led to his increased minutes.

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

TK: Kansas 76, Nebraska 66.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson and forward Markieff Morris give each other a celebratory flying bump during a timeout against Nebraska in the second half on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

It’s one thing to hear on TV that Nebraska has improved, an even louder thing to hear it from your persuasive coach, but nothing resonates better than a player experiencing it himself on the court. Down 10 in the second half to Nebraska in a game at Allen Fieldhouse let KU’s players know they’ll have to bring their best to beat this team in Lincoln. They’ll bring their best.

JN: Every time I think about the games at Lincoln, I always remember them being a little bit tougher for KU than I expected. That should especially be the case Saturday, as the Jayhawks might be going to the Devaney Center for the last time. The NU fans will be ready for their last shot against KU at home.

For me, there’s just too much going against the Jayhawks to pick them. Nebraska plays tough man-to-man defense, which has given KU the most problems this year (see Texas). NU also is 14-0 at home and in need of a big victory to put it over the top for its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998 — the year that Titanic became No. 1 in box offices. Yes, it’s been that long.

With an amped-up crowd, KU will most likely turn it over a bit more than expected, and it took a game with no turnovers in the final 17 minutes to beat NU last time.

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Nebraska's Caleb Walker fouls Kansas guard Tyrel Reed in the final minute of the game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

I see the Jayhawks falling victim to an early run and never being able to catch up against the methodical Huskers. The 22-0 record is on the line: I’m taking NU by four.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Josh Selby.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Josh Selby knocks the ball away from Nebraska guard Brandon Richardson during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s coming on strong. Matt Tait captures that well in the story he wrote Friday, pinch-hitting for Gary Bedore, who was still on his way back from our extended vacation in Lubbock, when the players were available for interviews Thursday. Nothing against Lubbock, but if I’m going to spend three days there I prefer it be when the golf courses are open.

JN: KU needs to hit open three-pointers against Nebraska. That means Tyrel Reed needs to hit open three-pointers against Nebraska.

While battling a foot injury, Reed is just 4-for-15 from three-point range (26.7 percent) in his last three games.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed goes up for a shot after being fouled by Nebraska guard Caleb Walker during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

If NU is going to clog the middle, the outside is going to be open. A bounceback effort from Reed could give the Jayhawks a huge boost if he’s able to knock down those three-pointers to take some scoring pressure off the KU forwards.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 22 games)
Tom: 19-3 record, 262 points off (11.9 points off/game)
Jesse: 22-0 record, 259 points off (11.8 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)
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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.5th in Keegan ratings