photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor pulls up for a three over Iowa State guard Chris Allen during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at Hilton Coliseum.

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

Tom, we have reached the midway point of the conference season. Based on conference games alone, name your choice as the mid-point Big 12 MVP.

Tom Keegan: Tough, tough call, but I would say I would have to give Tyshawn Taylor the nod over Thomas Robinson and Royce White.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor pulls up for a three over Iowa State guard Chris Allen during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at Hilton Coliseum.

Missouri has so many good players it’s tough even to identify a team MVP for the Tigers. Robinson was carrying KU through much of the nonconference season, but Taylor’s been as good as any Big 12 player since conference play started.

In conference games only, Taylor ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring (18.5), sixth in field-goal percentage (.509), fifth in assists (5.25), seventh in steals (1.75), fourth in three-point percentage (.395), tied for seventh in three-pointers made (1.88) and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.56). In the past four games (Baylor, at Texas, Texas A&M, at Iowa State), Taylor has a 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, has shot .617 from the field and .524 from beyond the arc.

My guess is by the end of conference season, Robinson will have earned the award, but so far it’s difficult to pick against Taylor.

JN: That’s an interesting scenario that could play out. Because Robinson was so good in the nonconference season, he still appears to be the favorite for national player of the year.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson lofts a shot over Iowa State forward Melvin Ejim during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at Hilton Coliseum.

But, as you say, Taylor has elevated his play since conference season began, putting him in the discussion for Big 12 player of the year.

Has a player ever won national player of the year, yet not been named the conference’s best player? I wouldn’t anticipate that happening, but that would definitely be an interesting scenario.

Looking at Oklahoma, guard Steven Pledger averaged 24 points in the regular-season sweep of Kansas State, but it’s not exactly a case of if you stop Pledger you stop Oklahoma, is it?

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas defenders Justin Wesley (4) and Travis Releford hound Oklahoma guard Steven Pledger during the first half Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Lloyd Noble Center. At right is OU forward Romero Osby.

TK: No. Pledger scored 30 points in Manhattan and 18 in Norman, but K-State’s failure to stop forwards Andrew Fitzgerald (21 points), Romero Osby (18 points) and Cameron Clark (10 points in 14 minutes) had as much as anything to do with the Sooners’ home-court victory.

JN: So much of Oklahoma’s offense comes from its outstanding offensive rebounding.

Though the Sooners don’t get the same press for their offensive rebounding as Kansas State does, OU still ranks 17th nationally by grabbing 38.9 percent of its misses.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson wrestles for the ball with Oklahoma forward Andrew Fitzgerald during the first half Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Lloyd Noble Center. At right is Kansas center Jeff Withey.

The concern for KU has to be the recent struggles of KU forward Thomas Robinson on the glass. The nation’s best defensive rebounder, who has grabbed 9.0 defensive rebounds per game, is averaging just 6.3 defensive rebounds in KU’s last three games.

Robinson is key for the Jayhawks if they hope to limit the Sooners’ second-chance points, as KU has few reliable rebounding options besides him.

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

TK: Kansas by 22.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas head coach Bill Self gets fired up on the sideline during the first half against Oklahoma on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Lloyd Noble Center.

The crowd will crank up the energy, Kansas will respond by forcing turnovers and the dunk-fest will begin.

JN: I’ll go with KU by 15.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Travis Releford (24) battles inside for a rebound with Iowa State forward Melvin Ejim during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at Hilton Coliseum.

Even KU coach Bill Self admitted that, as a player, it would be tough to not look ahead to Saturday’s huge matchup against Missouri.

Not only that, KU’s offense just hasn’t been quite in sync the last two games. The Jayhawks could sure use a game where the threes go down and where Robinson finishes the opportunities he gets close to the bucket.

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

TK: Thomas Robinson.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson looks up at the scoreboard before a rowdy backdrop of Iowa State students late in the second half on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at Hilton Coliseum.

He hasn’t been himself of late, but when a player points out why the way Robinson did after the Iowa State loss, when he said he’s “sped up again,” that player is on the road to getting back to himself.

JN: Speaking of guys breaking out of slumps, I’m taking Conner Teahan as my Hawk to Rock.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Conner Teahan elevates for a bucket between several Oklahoma defenders during the first half Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Lloyd Noble Center.

Even with all his recent struggles, he’s still made 20 of 50 three-pointers (40 percent) at Allen Fieldhouse this year.

My prediction is that Teahan will make at least three three-pointers while shooting at least 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Predictions tally (through 21 games)
Tom: 16-5 record, 226 points off (10.8 points off/game)
Jesse: 19-2 record, 191 points off (9.1 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)
Texas A&M: Thomas Robinson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Iowa State: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3rd 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)
Texas A&M: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
Iowa State: Jeff Withey (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.8th in Keegan ratings