Colorado coach Tad Boyle calls a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Colorado on Tuesday night in Boulder, Colo.

Tom, what is the first impression you had of Colorado coach Tad Boyle when you talked to him at Big 12 media day?

Colorado coach Tad Boyle calls a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Tom Keegan: Great presence. Very director communicator who leaves the impression he enjoys talking to people. He seems genuinely interested in what others have to say. Whether he is or isn’t is beside the point. He leaves everybody with the impression that he is interested and that will come in handy recruiting. It’s cool that two former KU players are having such good coaching years in the Big 12, though not without some tough losses.

JN: Speaking of tough losses, KU is coming off one after falling 74-63 at home to Texas on Saturday. One player who continued his recent struggles was freshman Josh Selby, who made just 2 of 9 shots with two turnovers.

Tom, do you think Selby will still be in the NBA next year?

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Josh Selby puts up a floater over Texas defenders Gary Johnson and Cory Joseph during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

TK: I’m sure all the mock draft boards say he will but I don’t see it. He’s so raw and why would a raw guard want to jump early? Why would a team want to use a high pick on a raw guard? Things as basic as running the fast break the right way seem new to him. Obviously, he has a lot of potential, but it seems to me he’d help his cause by proving he’ll reach that ceiling by putting together a consistently strong college season, which he might be able to do as a sophomore.

JN: His current statistics aren’t pretty, that’s for sure. On a team where everyone else in the rotation is shooting at least 50 percent from two-point range, Selby has made just 18 of 48 twos (37.5 percent). He also is turning it over once every nine minutes he’s in and is leading the team with 3.1 turnovers per game.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Kansas guard Josh Shelby drives in the paint past Texas players Tristan Thompson (left) and Gary Johnson January 22, 2011 in Allen Fieldhouse.

This isn’t to say that he won’t improve, but right now, Selby is not bringing KU the offensive punch that many analysts expected out of him when he was declared eligible to play in December.

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

TK: Kansas 81, Colorado 72. This is the last chance for the Western Kansas Jayhawks to take over the Coors Event Center, and even though it’s a weeknight game, they’re not going to want to miss the chance to give their team the home-away-from-homecourt advantage one more time.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas fans go wild for the television cameras before tipoff against Colorado Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colorado.

JN: I’m going KU by 14.

This is the perfect team for the Jayhawks to play after a poor offensive game against Texas, as Colorado offers little resistance defensively. The Buffs have allowed teams to shoot high percentages against them all year, and that trend should continue Tuesday.

Early victories over Kansas State and Missouri by CU were impressive, but I won’t be convinced the Buffaloes are for real until they start defending better.

Colorado has allowed at least 1 point per possession in 11 of its 20 games this year. To put that in perspective, KU has allowed at least 1 point per possession in just four of its 19 games. And the Jayhawks have played a much harder schedule.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Markieff Morris.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Markieff Morris wrestles for the ball between Texas defenders Tristan Thompson, back, and Gary Johnson during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s improved so much this year and is coming off a sub-par performance. He will want to have a big game because the Texas loss no doubt still bothers him.

JN: It’s time for my “Hawk to Rock” pick of the year, as I’m taking a guy who has played just five minutes in KU’s last five games: Jeff Withey.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas center Jeff Withey sends a shot by UMKC forward Jay Couisnard soaring during the first half on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

With Thomas Robinson not making the trip, the opportunity is there for Withey to get extended minutes. If he does play, he should be productive, as Colorado has little size and shouldn’t be able to match up with him underneath.

Withey actually has been putting up statistics during the time he’s been in. For every 40 minutes of gametime this year, he’s averaging 14 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Look for “Bedhead” Withey to break out against Colorado.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 19 games)
Tom: 16-3 record, 244 points off (12.8 points off/game)
Jesse: 19-0 record, 237 points off (12.5 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)
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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.3rd in Keegan ratings