Iowa State guard Scott Christopherson celebrates a three-pointer in the second half against Iowa earlier this season.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Iowa State on Wednesday night in Ames, Iowa.

One of the Cyclones’ best offensive players is three-point specialist Scott Christopherson, who leads the Big 12 in three-point shooting (48 of 95, 50.5 percent). Tom, what were you expecting of the Marquette transfer Christopherson when he transferred to Iowa State?

Tom Keegan: I figured he’d get more time, but I didn’t think he’d develop into such a good scorer.

Iowa State guard Scott Christopherson celebrates a three-pointer in the second half against Iowa earlier this season.

Then again, there was no way of knowing Fred Hoiberg would become his coach and Christopherson’s a poor-man’s Hoiberg. Christopherson’s not real quick — whatever KU guard he’s matched up against should take him to the hoop — but he’s always been a deadly shooter. He’s your classic play-him-before-the-catch-and-don’t-help-off-him threat.

JN: He’s not the only long-range threat KU has to worry about. Six-foot-11 senior Jamie Vanderbeken — who has been an outstanding defensive presence in the lane for the Cyclones — also is shooting 42.4 percent from three (36 of 85). ISU enters as the best three-point shooting team in the Big 12, making 38.8 percent of its attempts this year.

Turning the conversation back to KU, in your Associated Press ballot this week, you dropped the Jayhawks’ ranking to fourth. Where does KU need to improve to move back up your ballot?

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jan/09/33848/

TK: Just need to keep winning and others ahead of them will lose. That and play better against top competition. KU hasn’t played an opponent now ranked in the top 25, but there are plenty on the horizon.

JN: Interestingly, KU has only had two victory margins this year between 10 and 20 points. The Jayhawks are either playing close games (four have been decided by eight points or less) or extreme blowouts (nine have been decided by 21 points or more).

Another way to look at it: KU’s average margin of victory against non-top 100 KenPom teams is 30.8 points (eight games). Its average margin of victory over top 100 KenPom opponents is 9.6 points (seven games).

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson battles for a rebound with Michigan players Jordan Morgan (52) and Zack Novak (0) during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 at Crisler Arena.

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

TK: Kansas 79, Iowa State 70. It’s a tough place to play, has a different feel to it, and the crowd will go nuts with Johnny Orr in town.

JN: I’ll go KU by 14. I like Iowa State’s team this year, and even called the Cyclones a “sleeper” team in my Big 12 stock report last week, but I think the Jayhawks match up well with the Cyclones.

ISU gets a large percentage of its points from three-pointers (38.5 percent of its scoring), and that happens to be KU’s strongest area defensively. Though the Jayhawks sometimes get beaten by driving guards, they haven’t been torched by threes this year, ranking second nationally in three-point percentage defense (24.7 percent). Vanderbeken presents a problem for a lot of teams, but not for KU, which can stick either Marcus or Markieff Morris on him and feel confident that he won’t get lots of open looks.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Markieff Morris defends as Michigan guard Darius Morris redirects his pass during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 at Crisler Arena.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Tyshawn Taylor.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor gets a bucket and a foul from Michigan forward Jon Horford during the second half on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 at Crisler Arena.

Diante Garrett is having a terrific senior year for the Cyclones and is getting a lot of deserved attention for it. Look for Taylor to be up to the challenge of outplaying him and leading KU to victory in its Big 12 opener.

JN: For the first time this year, I’ll go with Marcus Morris.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris grabs an offensive rebound between Michigan defenders Darius Morris (4) and Jordan Morgan (52) during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 at Crisler Arena.

Iowa State doesn’t have many weaknesses defensively, meaning KU will have to lean on its best scorer for points. Right now, that’s Marcus, who also carried the Jayhawks offensively against Michigan (22 points, 8-for-18 shooting, 10 rebounds).

Marcus has averaged 7.3 rebounds in his four career games against Iowa State, and I think he’ll continue that rebounding success against the Cyclones. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another 20-point, 10-rebound effort from Marcus on Wednesday if he keeps himself focused in a crazy road environment.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 15 games)
Tom: 14-1 record, 189 points off (12.6 points off/game)
Jesse: 15-0 record, 205 points off (13.6 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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.6th 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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.3rd in Keegan ratings