Kansas State coach Frank Martin yells encouragement to his team during the first half against Missouri. The Wildcats fell to the Tigers, 75-59, on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in Columbia Mo.

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

Tom, what do you think has been the biggest factor in Kansas State’s disappointing year so far?

Kansas State coach Frank Martin yells encouragement to his team during the first half against Missouri. The Wildcats fell to the Tigers, 75-59, on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in Columbia Mo.

Tom Keegan: Going from a team that played with a chip on its shoulder, convinced it didn’t get the respect it deserved to a team that had unrealistic expectations put on it by the Big 12 coaches, who voted the ‘Cats preseason No. 1 in the Big 12. After that, going from Denis Clemente, as fast a guard as there was in the country, to Will Spradling, a promising freshman, but a freshman nonetheless.
JN: It hasn’t helped that the Wildcats seem to be having problems even getting shots up offensively.

Though Kansas State was slightly better than the NCAA average for turnover percentage last year, the Wildcats have turned it over on 23 percent of their possessions this year, which ranks 11th in the Big 12 and 288th nationally.

Missouri's Phil Pressey, center, celebrates after a Kansas State foul as Kansas State's Rodney McGruder, left, Shane Southwell, right, and Jamar Samuels, walk away during the second half Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 75-59.

KSU has turned it over 17.6 times per game through six conference games, and that has killed the team’s offense, which relies on offensive rebounding to get points.

Though the Wildcats are still one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the nation (grabbing 43.6 percent of their misses, third nationally), they can’t use that advantage if they don’t get shots to the rim.

KU, meanwhile, was able to limit turnovers in an 82-78 victory over Colorado on Tuesday.

Tom, whose offensive performance were you more surprised by against CU: Josh Selby’s or Brady Morningstar’s?

TK: Probably Brady’s.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Brady Morningstar shoots a three over Colorado guard Levi Knutson during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

He’s contributed in a lot of ways this year but to steal a line from Tommy Lasorda talking about Kurt Bevacqua, he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. It was nice to see Brady get hot. He’s a great team player and it’s always nice to see team players get hot.

JN: When talking with Brady on Friday, he told me he’d been shooting extra lately with KU assistant coach Joe Dooley. One of the technical things he’s been working on is holding his wrist during his follow-through, as earlier, he was short-arming his shots while trying to release his shot a bit too quickly.

OK, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?

TK: Kansas 84, Kansas State 70. It’s going to be one wild atmosphere Saturday and K-State lacks the depth to have a real good shot at pulling off the upset. Kansas is better in the backcourt and inside. Marcus and Markieff Morris have improved more than Jamar Samuels and Curtis Kelly.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris puts a shot off the glass over Colorado forward Austin Dufault during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

JN: I’ll say KU by 18.

I see this game starting out like the Texas game, with an emotional crowd helping the Jayhawks to a quick run.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed gets the Fieldhouse fired up after a three-pointer against Texas during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011.

The difference this time is that KU should be able to expand the lead after that against a Kansas State team that hasn’t performed well on the road in Big 12 play (0-3).

After forcing just six turnovers against Colorado, look for KU’s perimeter players to hound Kansas State’s shaky ball-handlers to create turnovers and also transition opportunities.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Marcus Morris.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris catches a pass in the paint ahead of Colorado forward Austin Dufault during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

This will be an emotional game for KU with Thomas Robinson back and, at least when he keeps his cool, nobody on this team is better at channeling emotions into big-time performances than Marcus Morris.

JN: Kansas State has been the worst team at defending three-pointers in Big 12 play, as conference foes have shot 41 percent from long range against the Wildcats.

Because I am cursed every time I pick Brady Morningstar (see Hawk to Rock ranking below), I’ll go with Tyrel Reed.

photo by: Nick Krug

Tyrel Reed jumps for a pass in front of the Kansas bench during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. At left are Kansas forward Marcus Morris and Colorado forward Marcus Relphorde.

He’s a Kansas kid, and during the games against KU’s two biggest rivals, he usually plays his best.

He also has reason to still be upset with KSU, even if he doesn’t admit it publicly.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 20 games)
Tom: 17-3 record, 249 points off (12.5 points off/game)
Jesse: 20-0 record, 247 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)
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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.5th in Keegan ratings