photo by: Nick Krug

Rock Chalk Dancers, from left, Molly Ryan, Jade Daniels and Brooke Ryan pose Wednesday during a shoot for the Rock Chalk Dancers calendar with photographer Tamalee Baker in the west hallway of Allen Fieldhouse on Sept. 15, 2010.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on UMKC on Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse.

Tom, what is one aspect of the game that KU fans should be paying attention to during the Jayhawks’ game against UMKC?

Tom Keegan: The dance team. This is my sixth year covering KU and this is without question the most talented dance team since I’ve been here.

photo by: Nick Krug

Rock Chalk Dancers, from left, Molly Ryan, Jade Daniels and Brooke Ryan pose Wednesday during a shoot for the Rock Chalk Dancers calendar with photographer Tamalee Baker in the west hallway of Allen Fieldhouse on Sept. 15, 2010.

JN: Um, OK. Not exactly the answer I was expecting, but I guess the Rock Chalk Dancers are where some folks’ attention will be drawn during the game.

Getting back to the game, though. Both of the Morris twins played extremely well after not starting against Miami (Ohio) on Sunday. What impressed you about their play?

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jan/02/33781/

TK: They were bucket-hanging, turning misses into easy buckets. They’re so quick and have such great hands they can do a lot of damage putting back other guys’ misses when they put their minds to it.

JN: KU coach Bill Self said on Tuesday that he believes the Morris twins’ ceilings are so high that anything less than great play from them often disappoints him. The coach seems to be trying to do a lot of different things to push the brothers past their comfort level, and both appeared to be especially into KU’s last game against Miami. We’ll see if the high energy level carries over to the UMKC game.

Before we get to predictions, Tom, I have to mention that your prediction from the Miami game was only two points off. Want to share your secret?

TK: My prediction was 82-57 and the score was 83-56. My guess is the numbers were probably running around in my head and spilled out into my fingers. Why might those numbers have been running around in my head? Because the Kansas men defeated UT-Arlington 82-57 and the KU women defeated UT-Arlington 80-57.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson (15) gets a flying, celebratory bump from teammate Tyshawn Taylor during a first-half timeout., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse.

JN: So what is your prediction for Wednesday’s game?

TK: Kenpom.com ranks a category it calls “effective height,” which takes into account only the two tallest players on the court at any one time. Kansas is ranked 57th, UMKC 257th. Again, KU should clean up inside. Kansas 82, UMKC 57.

JN: Nice. Very subtle.

I’ll say KU by 30. UMKC has played one of the easiest schedules in the NCAA to this point, and I don’t see the ‘Roos staying competitive against the best team they are going to face this year. This might be the last game for Self to play around with different lineups in a blowout, so UMKC might make up some ground late while Self continues to tinker with different combinations.

All right, Tom, who is your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Markieff Morris.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Markieff Morris dunks against Miami (Ohio) University guard Allen Roberts during the first half, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s on a roll and there is no reason to believe it won’t continue.

JN: Somehow, we haven’t picked Josh Selby as a Hawk to Rock yet. He’s my pick against UMKC.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Josh Selby tosses a pass out to the wing between Miami (Ohio) University defenders Julian Mavunga, left, and Antonio Ballard during the first half, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Through four games, Selby’s biggest weakness has been his high turnover count, as he is averaging 3.3 giveaways per game.

The ‘Roos don’t force a lot of turnovers (12.5 per game), meaning this could be a good opportunity for Selby to show he can be a great creator and scorer while also taking better care of the basketball.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 13 games)
Tom: 12-1 record, 159 points off (12.2 points off/game)
Jesse: 13-0 record, 188 points off (14.5 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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4th 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)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.5th in Keegan ratings