Texas A&M forward David Loubeau (10) battles for a rebound against Missouri forward Ricardo Ratliffe, back, during the first half of a Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., in this March 2011 file photo.

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

Tom, it’s been a rough, rough year for Texas A&M. The Aggies’ new coach had to leave the team for a while to deal with health problems that led to exhaustion and during that time was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Star player Kris Middleton has been in and out of the lineup with knee problems. Negative vibes have haunted the Aggies all year, so what I’m going to ask you to do is say something nice about them.

Texas A&M forward David Loubeau (10) battles for a rebound against Missouri forward Ricardo Ratliffe, back, during the first half of a Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., in this March 2011 file photo.

Tom Keegan: They don’t play bad defense. Senior post man David Loubeau is a physical presence in the middle, even though he’s not a shot-blocker and not a great rebounder. Oops, that last part wasn’t very nice. Sorry. Offensively, wing man Elston Turner, a junior who transferred to A&M from Washington, has been pretty good. He leads the team with 13.7 points per game and shoots .388 from three.

JN: You’re definitely right about A&M’s defense. The Aggies have only allowed opponents to shoot 27.5 percent from three (seventh nationally) and 43.3 percent from two (34th nationally).

Unfortunately for the Ags, their offense has been so bad this year that the strong shooting percentage defense hasn’t been of much help. A&M turns the ball over often, is a poor three-point shooting team (29.7 percent) and also a bad free-throw shooting team (63.6 percent).

Texas A&M's Keith Davis falls backward as he makes a pass while being guarded by Oklahoma's Romero Osby during the first half of a game at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.

The Aggies get 62 percent of their scoring from two-pointers, which probably isn’t a good sign for Monday night considering the interior has been the best part of the Jayhawks’ defense this year.

Looking at KU, what is the most overlooked individual statistic that has played a part in the Jayhawks performing better than most predicted?

TK: I would say Tyshawn Taylor’s .453 three-point shooting percentage.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor signals three after a bucket against Baylor during the first half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s such a great blow-by guard, which makes it tough for defenders to guard him tight to the three-point line. He’s making them pay by hitting his threes. That combination makes him one of the toughest guards in the country to guard. His hand surgery might have played a role in the improved shooting, but enhanced overall confidence is probably the biggest factor.

JN: We also shouldn’t overlook that, recently, Taylor has greatly improved his two-point shooting.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor lofts a shot over Texas forward Sheldon McClellan (2) for a bucket during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at the Frank Erwin Center.

In his last three games (where he’s averaged 26 points), Taylor has made 17 of 27 two-pointers (64 percent). Before then, Taylor had made just 44 percent of his twos this year.

Being able to hit the long-range shot has allowed Taylor to pull the defense to the perimeter, but the senior also has been able to finish drives with points in his last three games better than he has all season.

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

TK: Kansas by 18.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Justin Wesley wrestles for a loose ball with Texas center Clint Chapman during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at the Frank Erwin Center.

Middleton is doubtful, which makes A&M’s chances of keeping it close even tougher.

JN: I’ll go with KU by 23.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas defenders Tyshawn Taylor (10) and Jeff Withey (5) hound Texas center Clint Chapman during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at the Frank Erwin Center.

The real question in this game is whether the Aggies will get to 50 points. If KU’s defense is “turned up” as KU coach Bill Self likes to say, then A&M might not get there.

OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

TK: Thomas Robinson.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson smiles as he waits for the inbound while guarded by Texas forward Alexis Wangmene during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at the Frank Erwin Center.

A&M does a pretty good job of making teams play in the halfcourt, so look for Kansas to have a patient attack that features Robinson.

JN: Give me Tyshawn Taylor.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor looks up into the Texas student section as the Longhorns close in on the Jayhawks' lead during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at the Frank Erwin Center.

Texas A&M doesn’t come away with many steals and also is a team that puts opponents on the free throw line frequently. That sounds like a perfect matchup for Taylor, who should notch his fourth straight 20-plus-point game.

Predictions tally (through 19 games)
Tom: 15-4 record, 207 points off (10.9 points off/game)
Jesse: 18-1 record, 159 points off (8.4 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)
Baylor: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Texas: Thomas Robinson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.1st 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)
Baylor: Kevin Young (9th in Keegan ratings)
Texas: Travis Releford (5th in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.9th in Keegan ratings