**Jesse Newell:** Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Iowa State on Saturday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Tom, Iowa State’s best player, Royce White, ran afoul of the law as a freshman at Minnesota, never made it onto the court there, and so far is making the most of his second chance. Tell me something I might not know about White and tell me if there is a former college basketball player whose game might have been like White’s.
**Tom Keegan:** Everyone might not know that White has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which requires medication. I think it’s good that Iowa State has not hidden that because it enables people to view fairly the troubles he has had instead of simply labeling him a bad apple and moving on. I’ve only seen him in parts of games and highlights, but based on those, he reminds me a little of John Williams, who played at LSU in the mid-’80s and was the 12th pick in the 1986 draft. To look at both guys, big and beefy, you wouldn’t expect they would stray far from the hoop, then you watch them handle the ball so well, see the floor so well and pass so superbly. White leads the Cyclones in scoring (13.1), rebounding (9.1), assists (4.3) and turnovers (3.8).
Williams put too much weight on in the NBA and was tagged with the nickname “Hot Plate.” To this day, he’s the best high school basketball player I ever saw play live. He played for Crenshaw in Los Angeles.
**JN:** Kansas coach Bill Self didn’t commit to one player guarding White on Friday, saying instead that KU would switch off and have different guys on him. Center Jeff Withey seems like an especially poor matchup, simply because he has problems with players who draw him too far away from the basket.
This appears to be a defensive assignment that KU forward Thomas Robinson should have most of the time he’s in. The KU junior struggled with fouls against Texas Tech on Wednesday, and he’ll have another challenge if he is matched up against White, who draws 6.5 whistles per game (46th nationally).
Speaking of Robinson, he has been getting a lot of credit, deservedly so, for the season he’s having so far. Dick Vitale picked him as his midway point national player of the year. Is there even another area where he might not be getting enough credit?
**TK:** His composure. Opponents are slapping at his arms constantly and coming at him hard constantly. He hasn’t lost his cool once. It’s an accomplishment for someone as competitive as he is and as fiery to stay as cool as he has stayed.
**JN:** There definitely seems to be a difference in Robinson in recent games.
Early on this season, it seemed like it was a bit easier for opponents to get in his head by being physical with him. That hasn’t happened lately, and Robinson’s play seems to have been elevated because of it.
All right, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?
**TK:** Kansas by 9.
Iowa State beat Texas by six and won at Texas A&M by 24. What kind of odds could you have gotten from somebody before the season if you spotted that someone 23 points and took Iowa State in College Station? This team’s good, a legitimate contender to finish fifth in the Big 12 and earn an NCAA Tournament bid.
**JN:** I’ll say KU by 12.
It’s hard to make a prediction with Iowa State because of the variability of three-point shooting. More than 42 percent of the Cyclones’ field-goal attempts this year have been threes (15th-highest split nationally), and that’s actually a pretty good ratio to have if you’re an underdog.
With a good shooting day from three, ISU (which has made 39 percent of its threes this year) has a legitimate chance at an upset. With a poor shooting game, the Cyclones could get blown out by 30.
Against KU’s improving defense, I’ll default to saying ISU has an average shooting day, which would allow the Jayhawks to come away with a comfortable (but not too comfortable) home victory.
OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?
**TK:** Elijah Johnson.
He’s due to get hot.
**JN:** I haven’t picked him in eight games, so this is the perfect time to pull out my Thomas Robinson card.
ISU has had all sorts of troubles limiting teams offensively inside, allowing opponents to make 49.4 percent of their two-pointers. Expect a huge offensive game for the national player of the year candidate, who should be able to exploit the Cyclones’ lack of size and depth in the paint.
**Predictions tally (through 16 games)**
Tom: 13-3 record, 184 points off (11.5 points off/game)
Jesse: 15-1 record, 146 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)
**Average: 3.2nd 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
**Average: 3.6th in Keegan ratings**
Kansas forward Thomas Robinson stretches out while awaiting a couple of Jayhawk free throws after a technical foul against Texas Tech during the first half Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at United Spirit Arena.
