**Jesse Newell:** Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Texas Tech on Tuesday night in Lubbock, Texas.
Tom, why do you think KU has had such trouble winning against Texas Tech at United Spirit Arena recently?
**Tom Keegan:** No team is going to be up for every game. It could be KU has had a tough time getting up for the Tech. Because Kansas is Kansas and usually is ranked high, the Lubbock crowd never has a problem getting up for the game and neither do the players.
**JN:** Usually the Tech fans that do show up are excited, but honestly, the Red Raiders typically offer one of the worst home courts in the Big 12. With the weather conditions bad in Lubbock (as well as nearly everywhere else in the United States), I won’t be expecting a great crowd Tuesday night, either.
Looking at the Jayhawks, Tom, what impressed you most about KU’s 90-66 victory over Kansas State on Saturday?
**TK:** The players really do play unselfishly and don’t care who gets the points as long as they score more points than the opposition. And Tyshawn Taylor played excellent defense on Jacob Pullen.
**JN:** I went back and added it up, and if you take out the minutes when Taylor wasn’t in during the second half, Pullen had only six points on 3-for-15 shooting (he ended up with 21 points on 8-for-22 shooting). It was definitely a great effort from Taylor, who seemed active and motivated defensively against the Wildcats.
All, right, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?
**TK:** Kansas 84, Texas Tech 65. The Jayhawks won’t have any trouble getting up for this one. Exactly 136 minutes were played in an 84-65 loss two years ago to the Red Raiders by KU players who will suit up for Tuesday night’s game.
**JN:** I’ll go with KU by 16.
Though the Jayhawks obviously haven’t performed well in Lubbock in recent years, they enter this game clearly as the better team.
Texas Tech hardly plays any defense, so to win, the Red Raiders will have to be nearly perfect offensively. While it’s possible, I don’t think it’s likely.
One key for KU will be avoiding fouls against Texas Tech’s Mike Singletary.
Though the 6-foot-6 senior has the reputation as a great offensive player (and has averaged 29 points and 8.5 rebounds over his last two games), he’s actually been a below-average player this season away from the free-throw line.
Singletary has made 21 of 23 free throws in his last two games (91.3 percent) and 71.8 percent of his free throws this year. He hurts opponents most when he gets fouled, and that’s something the Jayhawks will have to keep in mind when defending him tonight.
OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?
**TK:** Markieff Morris.
He’s too quick for Texas Tech center Robert Lewandowski, a junior whose brother Pat is on the KU football team.
**JN:** I’ll say Thomas Robinson follows up a 17-point, nine-rebound performance with another strong effort.
Texas Tech’s biggest weakness is rebounding, especially on the defensive end. The Red Raiders rank 281st nationally in defensive rebounding percentage, meaning there should be opportunities for KU’s big players to grab caroms underneath.
After showing great energy in the second half against Kansas State, I’ll say that we see that same type of effort from Robinson on Tuesday night.
Tracking the picks
——————
**Predictions tally (through 21 games)**
Tom: 18-3 record, 259 points off (12.3 points off/game)
Jesse: 21-0 record, 253 points off (12.0 points off/game)
Hawk to Rock
————
**Tom Keegan**
Longwood: Tyrel Reed (6th in Keegan ratings)
Valparaiso: Marcus Morris (1st)
North Texas: Tyrel Reed (6th)
Texas A&M-CC: Marcus Morris (5th)
Ohio: Markieff Morris (3rd)
Arizona: Marcus Morris (1st)
UCLA: Tyshawn Taylor (1st)
Memphis: Markieff Morris (4th)
Colorado State: Tyshawn Taylor (2nd)
USC: Tyrel Reed (6th)
Cal: Marcus Morris (6th)
UT Arlington: Tyrel Reed (8th)
Miami: Marcus Morris (3rd)
UMKC: Markieff Morris (9th)
Michigan: Thomas Robinson (8th)
Iowa State: Tyshawn Taylor (7th)
Nebraska: Josh Selby (9th)
Baylor: Josh Selby (3rd)
Texas: Marcus Morris (3rd)
Colorado: Markieff Morris (5th)
Kansas State: Marcus Morris (4th)
**Average Hawk to Rock: 4.8th in Keegan ratings**
**Jesse Newell**
Longwood: Markieff Morris (1st in Keegan ratings)
Valparaiso: Brady Morningstar (8th)
North Texas: Tyrel Reed (6th)
Texas A&M-CC: Thomas Robinson (2nd)
Ohio: Tyshawn Taylor (4th)
Arizona: Brady Morningstar (8th)
UCLA: Markieff Morris (6th)
Memphis: Thomas Robinson (1st)
Colorado State: Markieff Morris (1st)
USC: Thomas Robinson (2nd)
Cal: Markieff Morris (2nd)
UT Arlington: Brady Morningstar (10th)
Miami: Tyshawn Taylor (8th)
UMKC: Josh Selby (1st)
Michigan: Tyrel Reed (4th)
Iowa State: Marcus Morris (1st)
Nebraska: Thomas Robinson (3rd)
Baylor: Tyshawn Taylor (6th)
Texas: Josh Selby (8th)
Colorado: Jeff Withey (7th)
Kansas State: Tyrel Reed (8th)
**Average Hawk to Rock: 4.6th in Keegan ratings**