photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson puts up a jumper between Iowa State defenders Anthony Booker, left, and Tyrus McGee during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

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

Tom, you’re an NBA general manager in need of a power forward. Do you draft Perry Jones III or Thomas Robinson?

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson puts up a jumper between Iowa State defenders Anthony Booker, left, and Tyrus McGee during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Tom Keegan: Jones is quite a bit longer and maybe even a tick more athletic, but I’d take Robinson. His motor never slows. He’s such a driven athlete, has a more aggressive personality than Jones. who doesn’t attack the boards with the same passion as Robinson.

JN: It’s hard to force players to become something they’re not, and Jones just appears to be a guy that will never be as assertive as his coaches want him to be (much like former KU player Brandon Rush).

It appears that he’s trying. His shot percentage is up to 24.4 percent this year from 22.3 percent last year. Still, Robinson takes 28.8 percent of his team’s shots while he’s in, so Jones still could stand to be even more aggressive and take on a greater offensive load.

If you’re an NBA GM, though, it’s Jones’ athleticism that has to be enticing. There aren’t many guys with his height that can do the things he can do.

Tom, what’s the most underrated aspect of this Baylor team?

Baylor's Perry Jones III (1) puts up a shot under pressure from Kansas State forward Jamar Samuels (32) during the first half Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, in Manhattan, Kan.

TK: Everybody knows about their long, athletic front line with good reason. But you don’t hear as much talk about what a good long-range shooting team this is. The Bears are shooting .415 from three-point land, up from .346 a year ago.

JN: It helps when the guys who take the most three-pointers shoot the best.

Boston College transfer Brady Heslip has fired up 104 threes and made 50 (48.1 percent), while junior-college transfer Pierre Jackson has made 29 of 59 (49.2 percent). Collectively, they’ve taken more than half of Baylor’s threes, and no other Bear has more than 32 attempted threes.

KU needs to pay close attention to those two, as Tyshawn Taylor’s defensive effort might be more important than his offensive one Monday night.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor swoops in for a bucket before Iowa State guard Scott Christopherson after a steal during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

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

TK: Baylor by 2.

I see why Kansas is the favorite, but all year when I’ve watched Baylor and tried to picture them on the same floor with Kansas what I have pictured is the toughest matchup for Kansas of anyone in the NCAA other than Kentucky. The Bears’ front line is so athletic. Their guards shoot so well and I think a good zone defense is more capable of slowing down KU than a good man-to-man defense.

JN: I’m going with KU by nine.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas head coach Bill Self applauds the Jayhawks as they close the gap against Iowa State during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

This game was called the “Can’t Miss Matchup” of the second half by SI’s Luke Winn and Andy Glockner, and I just don’t see KU losing in this type of game when the Allen Fieldhouse atmosphere will be so crazy.

Something else to keep an eye on: The Bears — and especially Jackson — have been turnover-prone this year, and the Jayhawks have done a great job recently of turning steals into easy points.

Allen Fieldhouse should rattle Baylor into even more carelessness, and I see KU taking advantage in a runaway victory.

All right, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Thomas Robinson.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson drives against Iowa State center Jordan Railey during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Baylor’s big men are terrific but none of them, not even Quincy Acy, has the strength to keep Robinson off the boards.

JN: I’ll go off the map a little bit and take Kevin Young.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas head coach Bill Self gets at forward Kevin Young after Young gave up an easy bucket to Iowa State during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He gave great minutes against Iowa State on Saturday, as KU scored points on 15 of the 18 second-half possessions he was in.

The junior also is one of the Jayhawks’ best offensive rebounders, and Baylor hasn’t been average at best at defensive rebounding this season.

Give me 10 points and eight rebounds for Young, who seems like he’s in line to pick up increased playing time going forward.

Predictions tally (through 17 games)
Tom: 14-3 record, 184 points off (10.8 points off/game)
Jesse: 16-1 record, 149 points off (8.8 points off/game)

Hawk to Rock

Tom Keegan
Towson: Tyshawn Taylor (4th in Keegan ratings)
Kentucky: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Georgetown: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
UCLA: Tyshawn Taylor (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Duke: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
FAU: Jeff Withey (4th in Keegan ratings)
South Florida: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Long Beach State: Elijah Johnson (7th in Keegan ratings)
Ohio State: Thomas Robinson (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Davidson: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
USC: Jeff Withey (4th in Keegan ratings)
Howard: Kevin Young (4th in Keegan ratings)
North Dakota: Elijah Johnson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Kansas State: Tyshawn Taylor (5th in Keegan ratings)
Oklahoma: Tyshawn Taylor (4th in Keegan ratings)
Texas Tech: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Iowa State: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.2nd in Keegan ratings

Jesse Newell
Towson: Conner Teahan (6th in Keegan ratings)
Kentucky: Elijah Johnson (4th in Keegan ratings)
Georgetown: Kevin Young (9th in Keegan ratings)
UCLA: Elijah Johnson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Duke: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
FAU: Tyshawn Taylor (7th in Keegan ratings)
South Florida: Elijah Johnson (6th in Keegan ratings)
Long Beach State: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Ohio State: Travis Releford (5th in Keegan ratings)
Davidson: Jeff Withey (5th in Keegan ratings)
USC: Elijah Johnson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Howard: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
North Dakota: Conner Teahan (5th in Keegan ratings)
Kansas State: Travis Releford (1st in Keegan ratings)
Oklahoma: Elijah Johnson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Texas Tech: Travis Releford (2nd in Keegan ratings
Iowa State: Thomas Robinson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.6th in Keegan ratings