photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas defenders Mario Little, left, and Elijah Johnson look to trap Texas guard Cory Joseph during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Texas on Saturday night in the championship of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Tom, strictly from a physical talent standpoint, which team is better, Kansas or Texas?

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas defenders Mario Little, left, and Elijah Johnson look to trap Texas guard Cory Joseph during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Tom Keegan: First, I’d like to thank you for not using “moving forward,” in your question this time. I especially would like to thank you for not using it in the story linked below. Great read. If anybody hasn’t read it yet, set aside the time to do so. It captures nice guy Marcus Morris and shows how far he’s come.

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2011/mar/09/promise-keeper-unfinished-business-consumes-marcus/

Anyway, back to your question. Texas is more physically imposing, with bigger, thicker bodies at nearly every position, but basketball is played with the mind as much as the body and Kansas has the edge there. The twins are extremely smart players and so are Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed.

JN: Not only are those four KU players smart, they also are unselfish. Reed and Morningstar have the main objective of getting the ball inside before looking for their own shot. The Morris twins, meanwhile, never hesitate to throw it out to the perimeter when they are double-teamed in the post. None of the four seem to be concerned at all with how many shots they put up.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Markieff Morris goes up for a bucket over Colorado forward Austin Dufault during the first half on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Sprint Center.

That unselfishness both inside and on the perimeter makes KU a difficult team to defend.

Tom, we’ll never know how much of a factor KU’s fatigue was from staying up all night with Thomas Robinson, who had just learned of his mother’s passing, in Texas’ 74-63 win on Jan. 22. That aside, what are some things about Texas that might give Kansas trouble on any day under any circumstances?

TK: Freshman center Tristan Thompson. He’s really, really good at both ends and he’s getting better all the time. His shot-blocking swung the last KU-UT matchup in the Longhorns’ favor.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris hangs for a shot over Texas forward Tristan Thompson during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

JN: Thompson ranks as one of the nation’s best in fouls drawn per game (27th), block percentage (96th) and offensive rebounding percentage (50th), according to Kenpom.com. Though teammate Dogus Balbay won the Big 12’s defensive player of the year award, I’m not so sure I wouldn’t have voted for Thompson. Much like former KU center Cole Aldrich, Thompson forces opponents to think twice about any shot that is taken in the paint.

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

TK: Kansas 79, Texas 73.

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.

Kansas has the emotional edge, wanting to avenge the loss that ended its 69-game Allen Fieldhouse winning streak and the Jayhawks are a better offensive team.

JN: I’ll say KU by two.

The Longhorns’ defense isn’t playing at the same unbelievable level that it was in late January, and I see the Jayhawks having better success offensively against UT.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Kansas forward Markieff Morris works against Texas defender Matt Hill under the basket in the second half Saturday, January 22, 2011 in Allen Fieldhouse.

Should be a great game, with KU also picking up a slight edge by playing in front of thousands and thousands of amped-up Jayhawk fans.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Marcus Morris was the regular-season Big 12 Player of the Year and I like his chances of winning the tourney’s most valuable player award as well.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris strips the ball from Colorado forward Marcus Relphorde during the second half on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Sprint Center. At left is KU guard Brady Morningstar.

My final AP top 25 poll is due this weekend and so is my All-American ballot. Marcus won’t be my National Player of the Year. Jimmer Fredette will get that vote, but Marcus will be on my first-team All-American ballot.

JN: I’ll go with Brady Morningstar.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Brady Morningstar elevates past Colorado guard Levi Knutson for a bucket during the second half on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Sprint Center.

The KU senior has struggled with his shot in the Big 12 tournament, making just 7 of 21 field goals (33.3 percent) and 1 of 9 three-pointers (11.1 percent). The Jayhawks will need him to make open shots on Saturday, and I just have this feeling we’ll see him break out of his mini slump. This feels like a 14-point, six-assist, one-turnover-type game for Morningstar.

Tracking the picks

Predictions tally (through 33 games)
Tom: 28-5 record, 358 points off (10.8 points off/game)
Jesse: 31-2 record, 378 points off (11.5 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)
Colorado: Markieff Morris (5th)
Kansas State: Marcus Morris (4th)
Texas Tech: Markieff Morris (4th)
Nebraska: Mario Little (7th)
Missouri: Tyrel Reed (7th)
Iowa State: Markieff Morris (2nd)
Kansas State: Brady Morningstar (2nd)
Colorado: Marcus Morris (3rd)
Oklahoma State: Marcus Morris (1st)
Oklahoma: Tyrel Reed (3rd)
Texas A&M: Tyrel Reed (1st)
Missouri: Tyrel Reed (3rd)
Oklahoma State: Josh Selby (7th)
Colorado: Thomas Robinson (7th)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.5th 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)
Missouri: Markieff Morris (3rd)
Iowa State: Brady Morningstar (4th)
Kansas State: Marcus Morris (4th)
Colorado: Josh Selby (6th)
Oklahoma State: Elijah Johnson (2nd)
Oklahoma: Markieff Morris (2nd)
Texas A&M: Thomas Robinson (7th)
Missouri: Markieff Morris (6th)
Oklahoma State: Tyshawn Taylor (4th)
Colorado: Marcus Morris (1st)
Average Hawk to Rock: 4.3rd in Keegan ratings