**Jesse Newell:** Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Oklahoma State on Monday night in Stillwater, Okla.
As coach at Kansas, Bill Self is 1-3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena. KU is coming off an emotional, overtime comeback victory against its chief rival and guaranteed itself at least a share of the Big 12 title.
Playing without injured freshman Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State in its last game scored its biggest Big 12 margin of victory, beating Texas A&M by 18 points. Earlier in the schedule, the Cowboys defeated Missouri.
Some might say this has classic signs of a trap game. Tom, tell us something about Oklahoma State that could ease the anxiety of KU fans.
**Tom Keegan:** The Cowboys haven’t won two games in a row since the first week of December. Their full-court pressure did give Kansas fits in the game in Allen Fieldhouse, but Kansas will be ready for that this time.
**JN:** Another reason KU fans might be able to breathe a little easier: Oklahoma State probably won’t be grabbing many rebounds.
In the teams’ first matchup on Feb. 11, KU outrebounded OSU, 50-21. The Jayhawks grabbed more than half of their missed shots (52 percent) while the Cowboys came away with offensive rebounds on just 13 percent of their misses.
OSU’s rebounding numbers should be better than that Monday night, but I’d still expect KU to dominate that category. To make up for that, the Cowboys will either have to make a lot of threes, get to the free throw line a ton or create a lot of KU turnovers.
The free throw line — OSU had 56 free throws in a 90-78 home win over Texas, tying the second-most in an NCAA game this season — is probably the Cowboys’ best bet.
Tom, what do you like best about OSU’s 5-foot-9 point guard, Keiton Page?
**TK:** I like what a fearless competitor he is. In the layup line, he doesn’t look as if he belongs. In the game, he proves he does. I like how he has become noticeably better in each of his four seasons in Stillwater. His scoring averages, starting with his freshman season: 8.6, 10.7, 13.2, 16.2. Starting with his 19-point effort in a 15-point loss in Lawrence, Page has averaged 25.2 points and averaged five three-pointers. He followed a 40-point game against Texas with 29 points against Oklahoma.
**JN:** He’s also the only senior that will be honored in Monday’s Senior Night ceremonies, so this game should be special for him regardless.
But you’re right … he’s been playing especially well offensively as of late. Since the KU game, he’s made 21 of 43 three-pointers (49 percent) and 26 of 28 free throws (93 percent) in four games.
Page was held to 19 points on 5-for-16 shooting in his first game this year against KU. The Jayhawks would certainly take that kind of a defensive performance against the senior Monday night.
All right, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?
**TK:** Kansas by 6.
It’s a tough turnaround for Kansas, emotionally drained from Saturday’s game, but the desire to clinch the outright Big 12 title and continue to hunt a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed should be ample motivation to pull out the victory.
**JN:** I’ll take KU by 11.
Outside of Page, OSU just doesn’t have many playmakers offensively, especially with Le’Bryan Nash most likely sitting out with a fractured hand.
As I mentioned above, I think the rebounding disparity will be hard for OSU to make up. This isn’t a Cowboys team that forces a lot of turnovers, so it’ll most likely have to rely on making lots of shots and free throws.
That seems like a lot to ask for a team that made just eight of 24 field goals in the first half against KU while falling behind, 51-24, in a game 16 days ago.
OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?
TK: Travis Releford.
Against the two Big 12 schools from Oklahoma, Releford has made 19 of 25 shots (76 percent) and has made 4 of 7 three-pointers (57 percent). Against competition from all other states, Releford makes 46 percent overall and 32 percent on three-pointers. Whether it’s red or orange, Releford tuns into a bull when he sees the word Oklahoma.
**JN:** Even with a bad wheel, Jeff Withey is my HTR.
OSU is another team that does not match up well against him, and the 7-footer had 18 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks in the first matchup.
Self said earlier Monday that expected Withey to start against OSU with his ankle injury.
Because the Cowboys have only one player close to his height (reserve Philip Jurick), this sets up to be another impressive statistical night for Withey.
Give me double-digit points and rebounds for the KU junior.
**Predictions tally (through 28 games)**
Tom: 23-6 record, 273 points off (9.4 points off/game)
Jesse: 26-3 record, 236 points off (8.1 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)
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)
**Average: 2.8th 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)
**Average: 3.9th in Keegan ratings**
Kansas center Jeff Withey looks for an outlet after rejecting a shot by Oklahoma State guard Keiton Page during the first half on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.
