JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Southern Conference champion Wofford is hoping to swarm and sting Arkansas forward Bobby Portis tonight when the Terriers open NCAA Tournament play against the Razorbacks.
Portis, a 6-11 sophomore and the SEC Player of the Year, will tower over the Terriers, whose tallest starters are 6-6 Lee Skinner and Justin Gordon.
"Bobby Portis is terrific," Wofford Coach Mike Young said. "We're going to have to put him in a beehive."
Skinner said the Terriers are used to being underdogs inside.
"We've been pretty undersized even in our own conference all year, which we did pretty well in," Skinner said. "It's just another challenge that we're going to take on, compete and stick together."
Young said Portis' versatility is impressive.
"You see him lead the break, you see him step out and make a three," Young said. "You see him do some things that strike you as a small forward as much as a back-to-the-basket post guy.
"He's ultra-talented, and we certainly have our hands full with him. He's the SEC Player of the Year. I mean, that says about all you need to know about Bobby Portis."
Portis said the Razorbacks' height advantage will be beneficial, but doesn't guarantee a victory.
"We still have to come out and play Arkansas basketball," Portis said.
No offense taken
The Terriers didn't sound upset when asked about comments from Arkansas players saying they hadn't heard of Wofford before it was announced as the Razorbacks' NCAA Tournament opponent.
Senior guard Karl Cochran said it reminded him of the Terriers' NCAA Tournament appearance last season, when Michigan's players said they hadn't heard of Wofford.
"It's nothing new to us when a team as big as Arkansas doesn't know who we are," Cochran said. "It's just because we're a really small school."
Wofford, located in Spartanburg, S.C., has an enrollment of 1,600.
Looking for first
Wofford is 0-3 in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Wisconsin 53-49 in 2010, to BYU 74-66 in 2011 and to Michigan 57-40 in 2-14.
So what would it mean to Mike Young, in his 26th season at Wofford and 13th season as head coach, for the Terriers to beat Arkansas for their first NCAA Tournament victory?
"I may just shut it down," Young said with a laugh. "I may just start running back to Spartanburg.
"It would be unbelievable."
Bracing for pressure
It's no secret the Razorbacks will look to use it's pressure defense to try to speed up Wofford and force turnovers that lead to baskets.
"We're going to have to be basketball players and move to the proper spots and pass the ball sharply and run through balls and get to the half court and do the things that we do well and hopefully get a good shot every time down there," Terriers Coach Mike Young said. "This team has been exceptional in taking care of the ball and taking great shots."
Wofford is shooting 45.8 percent from the field and averaging 10.9 turnovers per game.
Sports on 03/19/2015