**Jesse Newell:** Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session. Tom, where does KU need to improve most tonight during its game against Memphis?
**Tom Keegan:** The obvious answer would be in defending the post. Derrick Williams of Arizona drove to the hoop, and UCLA’s Joshua Smith posted up and was able to get too many easy buckets. KU is not defending the paint, which KU coach Bill Self warned might be a problem for this team. He’s been proven right.
http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2010/dec/03/33595/
**JN:** The good news for KU is that Memphis doesn’t appear to have a true forward that can take over inside like the Jayhawks’ two previous opponents.
The Tigers’ best player is 6-foot-9 guard/forward Wesley Witherspoon (No. 11), but he plays more of a small forward-type position like UCLA’s Tyler Honeycutt.
In fact, 6-foot-8 Tarik Black, 6-foot-9 Will Coleman and 6-foot-11 Angel Garcia are the only three true “forwards” that get significant time for Memphis, and none of them are averaging more than 17 minutes per game.
Memphis’ strength is definitely in its backcourt, so it looks like KU’s guards like Tyshawn Taylor, Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar will be the ones most tested tonight against the Tigers.
Speaking of the Jayhawks, Tom, which KU player most needs a bounce back game against Memphis?
**TK:** I’m going to say Markieff Morris. He’s at that point in his career where he needs to prove that he can play defense with his feet and not his hands, and needs to show he can do a better job of fronting the post.
**JN:** All those techniques would help Markieff stay in the game a little bit longer. The 6-foot-9 junior has regressed this season when it comes to fouling the opposition.
**Markieff Morris fouls committed per 40 minutes** (Stats from Kenpom.com)
2008-09 (Freshman) — 7.2 fouls/40
2009-10 (Sophomore) — 5.8 fouls/40
2010-11 (Junior) — 6.9 fouls/40
Markieff has shown significant improvement from his sophomore to his junior season, but that’s only going to show up if he figures out a way to lower his foul count this year.
OK, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?
**TK:** KU by eight. Two athletic teams, but Kansas is a little more skilled.
**JN:** I’ll go KU by five. Witherspoon is one of the best in the nation at drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line, and many of his quick teammates (Joe Jackson, Antonio Barton) also thrive at the same thing. Though post defense has been KU’s biggest struggle lately, I could easily see the Jayhawks’ perimeter players having trouble keeping the Memphis guards out of the lane tonight.
Still, the Jayhawks pull it out in the end in front of a pro-KU crowd.
OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?
**TK:** My Hawk to Rock is Markieff Morris.
Markieff is eager to please and he knows his coach wasn’t pleased with his performance in the last game.
**JN:** Kudos to you, by the way, as you’ve gotten two Hawk to Rocks right in a row.
I’m going with Thomas Robinson.
In my last recap blog, I talked about how Robinson has had a four-game pattern of good game, then bad game.
He’s due for a good game tonight, and this looks to be a perfect matchup for him.
Not only does Memphis lack true big men (which Robinson sometimes struggles against defensively), it also does not defensive rebound well, ranking 258th in the country in defensive rebounding percentage.
Robinson should be right at home in an up-tempo game played against shorter defenders that don’t hit the defensive glass very hard.
Look for Robinson to rack up the offensive rebounds while also adding a few blocks.
Tracking the picks
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**Predictions tally (through seven games)**
Tom: 6-1 record, 132 points off (18.9 points off/game)
Jesse: 7-0 record, 124 points off (17.7 points off/game)
Hawk to Rock
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**Tom Keegan**
Longwood: Tyrel Reed (6th in Keegan ratings)
Valparaiso: Marcus Morris (1st in Keegan ratings)
North Texas: Tyrel Reed (6th in Keegan ratings)
Texas A&M-CC: Marcus Morris (5th in Keegan ratings)
Ohio: Markieff Morris (3rd in Keegan ratings)
Arizona: Marcus Morris (1st in Keegan ratings)
UCLA: Tyshawn Taylor (1st in Keegan ratings)
**Average Hawk to Rock: 3.3rd in Keegan ratings**
**Jesse Newell**
Longwood: Markieff Morris (1st in Keegan ratings)
Valparaiso: Brady Morningstar (8th in Keegan ratings)
North Texas: Tyrel Reed (6th in Keegan ratings)
Texas A&M-CC: Thomas Robinson (2nd in Keegan ratings)
Ohio: Tyshawn Taylor (4th in Keegan ratings)
Arizona: Brady Morningstar (8th in Keegan ratings)
UCLA: Markieff Morris (6th in Keegan ratings)
**Average Hawk to Rock: 5th in Keegan ratings**
