Missouri's Laurence Bowers shoots past North Alabama's Marcus Landry, left, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game, 98-58.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Missouri on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Tom, what’s one thing that should concern Kansas fans about the Missouri matchup?

Missouri's Laurence Bowers shoots past North Alabama's Marcus Landry, left, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game, 98-58.

Tom Keegan: The only thing to fear is fear itself. — Franklin D. Roosevelt, inaugural address, 1933

JN: Hmmm. OK, thanks for the historical quote. My less philosophical answer would probably involve some discussion of turnovers. A lot is made of Missouri’s ability to take the ball away, but not many people seem to talk about how well the Tigers take care of the ball themselves.

MU turns it over on just 17 percent of its possessions, which is best in the Big 12. The Tigers’ average turnover margin is plus-5.5, meaning that the Tigers gain an average of about seven points per game by simply having more possessions than the other team. Those points can’t be overlooked in a close game.

Switching to KU, a little off-the-wall here, but bear with me. Tom, if you were choosing right now, who would make up KU’s best five-player offensive lineup? And who would make up KU’s best five-player defensive lineup?

photo by: Mike Yoder

Kansas defenders, from left, Markieff Morris (21), Marcus Morris (22), Elijah Johnson and Brady Morningstar (12) surround Nebraska's Caleb Walker during the first half Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.

TK: Wow, that’s a tough one, but I’ll take a stab: Offense: Josh Selby, Tyrel Reed, Brady Morningstar, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris. Defense: Tyshawn Taylor, Brady Morningstar, Marcus Morris, Thomas Robinson, Markieff Morris. (Uh-oh, I have seen the future and the future is filled with Brady-bashers commenting below).

JN: I’m not sure there are many Brady-bashers left out there. It helps when a guard is on the type of shooting streak he’s on (11-for-18 from three in his last four games).

In fact, if folks were going to criticize Morningstar for anything lately, it might be his defense. Though the senior seems to be good at playing off-the-ball defense and preventing the man he’s guarding from getting the ball, he doesn’t appear to be as good of a defender once his man receives it. He’s been beaten off the dribble more this year than I remember in the past.

Again, though, if you post 19 points with six assists and no turnovers (like he did Saturday against Nebraska), then it’s going to be tougher for folks to nitpick any part of his game.

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

TK: Kansas 86, Missouri 70. As you have said many times, Mizzou’s style just doesn’t work on the road. If you notice, Mizzou hasn’t played its wild, constant trapping style in its last couple of visits to Allen Fieldhouse because it doesn’t work here.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Brady Morningstar goes to the bucket between Missouri defenders Keith Ramsey (15) and Justin Safford (23) during the second half, Monday, Jan. 25, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse.

JN: I have it in my head that every time Missouri comes to Allen Fieldhouse, KU breaks the press with ease and gets lots of easy baskets. The fans go nuts, and the game gets out of control in a hurry. I’m expecting the same here.

Give me KU by 20. The return trip to Columbia, Mo., should be a dandy, though.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Tyrel Reed.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed finishes a fast-break alley-oop from Tyshawn Taylor on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010 against Missouri at Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s a Tiger-killer. It’s in his blood. He plays his best basketball against Mizzou.

JN: I’m going with Markieff Morris.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Kansas forward Markieff Morris shoots over three Nebraska defenders during the second half Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.

Missouri isn’t a good rebounding team, and Markieff will be motivated to get the loose caroms after posting a season-low one rebound in 33 minutes against Nebraska. The junior has led the Jayhawks in rebounding in 13 of 23 games this year.

Though he hasn’t been talked about much, Markieff also is on a hot streak offensively. Over his last three games, the 6-foot-10 forward is 19-for-24 from the field (79.2 percent) and is averaging 16 points per game.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 23 games)
Tom: 20-3 record, 272 points off (11.8 points off/game)
Jesse: 22-1 record, 283 points off (12.3 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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.8th 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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.6th in Keegan ratings