Kansas forward Thomas Robinson wrestles for position with Baylor forward Perry Jones III during the first half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Baylor on Friday night in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.

Tom, after his team played well and defeated Kansas State to advance to the semifinals, Baylor coach Scott Drew defended the Bears’ season, saying, “If you look at our losses, we haven’t had a bad loss. The teams that we’ve lost to are all good teams and teams that are NCAA Tournament teams, are going to be successful.”

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson wrestles for position with Baylor forward Perry Jones III during the first half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Do you agree with that statement?

Tom Keegan: Yes, but I don’t think that’s a good way to judge a team at this time of year. You don’t advance in the NCAA Tournament by losing to good teams. You advance by beating good teams.

While it’s true that all of Baylor’s losses came against good opponents — Kansas twice, Missouri twice, Iowa State and Kansas State once — what victory qualifies as a “signature victory?” Mississippi State in Dallas? K-State in Manhattan? Iowa State in Waco?

photo by: Nick Krug

The Kansas bench goes wild during a Jayhawk run in the second half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

JN: I’d have to say Baylor’s two wins against KSU this year would be its best wins — and Thursday’s victory was probably its best.

There is something to be said, though, for not slipping up against teams you’re “supposed” to beat. The Bears don’t have a surprising loss on their schedule (like a semi-home game against Davidson, for example), so maybe that’s the point Drew was trying to make.

For as much talk as there has been about Baylor being disappointing this year, let’s remember this team came into the season preseason ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press poll.

The Bears’ ranking this week? Yep, it’s No. 12.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Travis Releford wrestles on the floor for a loose ball with Baylor guard Pierre Jackson during the first half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

I’d say that anyone who calls this Baylor season a huge disappointment might be guilty of over-exaggerating just a bit.

Tom, turnovers have held Baylor back the past couple of seasons. Is there any reason to believe things are getting better in that area?

TK: I’m going to let Scott Drew answer that one.

Scott, the floor is yours: “I’ll throw coach Knight a bone here. He did a great job a couple of weeks ago. I asked him — he always moves the ball so well when he coaches, and we were a little stagnant — we threw in his favorite drill to help with assist-to-turnovers. I don’t think the guys liked it at first, but we’re getting better. So, I think we’ve handled the ball better and (haven’t) had as many turnovers lately.”

JN: Though Baylor’s turnovers have improved in the last few games, that remains as the Bears’ biggest weakness offensively.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Kansas junior Travis Releford reaches for a loose ball against Baylor's Quincy Miller in the second half on Monday January 16, 2012 in Allen Fieldhouse.

BU has shot it well from two-point range, three-point range and the free throw line and also is a good offensive rebounding team this year. The Bears give it away more than the average NCAA team, though, which is the only thing keeping them from being an elite offensive team.

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

TK: Kansas by 3.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor dips under Baylor forward Perry Jones for a bucket during the second half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Baylor has a greater depth of talent. Kansas competes harder and has more experience beating good teams in close games.

JN: I’ll take KU by seven.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson gets up for an alley-oop over Baylor defenders Perry Jones III and Anthony Jones (41) during the first half on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks have proven this year they can dice up Baylor’s zone defense, which gives KU an advantage going in.

Even if both teams’ offenses are about equal (which they might be), I’ll take KU’s defense over Baylor’s.

It doesn’t hurt that the Jayhawks will have the advantage of a home crowd as well.

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

TK: Jeff Withey.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Jeff Withey gets a hand on a shot by Baylor forward Perry Jones.

He almost always plays disruptive defense and with Baylor expending so much effort trying to stop Thomas Robinson, things should open up for Withey.

JN: I’ll take zone-killer Kevin Young.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Kansas forward Kevin Young goes up for a reverse dunk during the first half of KU's game against Oklahoma State on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

Even when it hasn’t been successful, Drew has defended his team’s zone defense and been hesitant to go away from it.

Young is KU’s best weapon against the zone, a big man who is a skilled passer that can also dribble out of trouble if he needs to.

The junior had three key assists in just 10 minutes in KU’s last game against Baylor. Look for KU coach Bill Self to throw him in sooner if KU is needing better execution against the Bears’ defense Friday.

Predictions tally (through 32 games)
Tom: 26-6 record, 286 points off (8.9 points off/game)
Jesse: 29-3 record, 243 points off (7.6 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)
Oklahoma: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Missouri: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Baylor: Thomas Robinson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Oklahoma State: Thomas Robinson (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Kansas State: Tyshawn Taylor (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Texas Tech: Thomas Robinson (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Texas A&M: Tyshawn Taylor (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Missouri: Thomas Robinson (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Oklahoma State: Travis Releford (7th in Keegan ratings)
Texas: Tyshawn Taylor (2nd in Keegan ratings)

Texas A&M: Tyshawn Taylor (4th in Keegan ratings)
Average: 2.9th 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)
Oklahoma: Conner Teahan (6th in Keegan ratings)
Missouri: Kevin Young (8th in Keegan ratings)
Baylor: Jeff Withey (1st in Keegan ratings)
Oklahoma State: Tyshawn Taylor (4th in Keegan ratings)
Kansas State: Travis Releford (4th in Keegan ratings)
Texas Tech: Kevin Young (4th in Keegan ratings)
Texas A&M: Jeff Withey (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Missouri: Travis Releford (6th in Keegan ratings)
Oklahoma State: Jeff Withey (6th in Keegan ratings)
Texas: Thomas Robinson (1st in Keegan ratings)
Texas A&M: Jeff Withey (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Average: 3.9th in Keegan ratings