Hogs won't sit back on Heels

Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson directs players during practice for an NCAA college basketball second round game, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. Arkansas plays Wofford on Thursday. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When the Arkansas Razorbacks found out last Sunday they were opening NCAA Tournament play against Wofford, their reaction was understandable.

"Who?"

TODAY’S GAME

ARKANSAS VS. NORTH CAROLINA

WHEN 7:40 p.m. Central

WHERE Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Fla.

SEEDS Arkansas: No. 5. North Carolina: No. 4

RECORDS Arkansas 27-8. North Carolina 25-11.

RADIO Razorback Sports Network

TELEVISION TNT

Wofford, the Southern Conference conference champion, has the smallest enrollment (1,600) of any team in this year's field and never has won an NCAA Tournament game, but Arkansas knows all about the Terriers now after surviving a scare to win 56-53 Thursday night and advance to a third-round game.

The Razorbacks don't have to wonder about their next opponent.

Arkansas (27-8) is playing North Carolina (25-11) at 7:40 p.m. Central today in Veterans Memorial Arena with a trip to the West Region semifinals next week in Los Angeles at stake.

"We know there's an unbelievable tradition at North Carolina," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said. "It's a great opportunity for us to play against an outstanding program. They're a dynamite team with great size, great length, great athletic ability."

North Carolina has a 111-43 NCAA Tournament record in 46 appearances, including five national championships. Kentucky is the only team with more NCAA Tournament victories (117).

"Everybody in this tournament is good, but it's always exciting to play a team like North Carolina," Arkansas senior guard Ky Madden said. "I mean, it's North Carolina."

The Razorbacks and Tar Heels have a rich NCAA Tournament history, going 2-2 against each other.

With today's fifth meeting, North Carolina will be the opponent Arkansas has played most frequently in the NCAA Tournament. The only teams North Carolina has played more often in the NCAA Tournament than Arkansas are Kansas and Villanova (six times each).

The Razorbacks beat North Carolina in 96-73 in the 1990 Midwest Regional semifinals and 75-68 at the 1995 Final Four, while the Tar Heels won 80-74 in the 1993 East Regional semifinals and 108-77 in a second-round 2008 East Regional game.

Arkansas is one of six schools with at least two NCAA Tournament victories over North Carolina, along with Arizona (2-0), Indiana (2-0), Kansas (4-2) and Syracuse (2-1).

"Arkansas is a big-time program, too," junior guard Michael Qualls said when asked about playing North Carolina. "I look forward to it."

Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams, 2-0 against Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament with one victory each at Kansas and North Carolina, said he knows Anderson's Razorbacks play the same pressure style as the team did under Nolan Richardson.

"I love the way they play," Williams said. "We've got to turn up our motor up higher than it's been all year. "

Williams said he has his players' full attention after North Carolina had to rally to beat Harvard 67-65 on Thursday night.

"No matter how much you praise Harvard, they think, 'It's Harvard,' and that's bad," Williams said. "You respect everyone but fear no one. That's what I tell them all the time."

Williams, though, sounded somewhat fearful about the Razorbacks.

"They're scary," he said. "They really are."

North Carolina junior forward J.P. Tokoto said the Tar Heels are impressed by the Razorbacks' style and intensity.

"We know they play extremely hard -- that's what they're known for -- and are very athletic," Tokoto said. "We can't have any letdowns."

The Razorbacks sounded excited to play a North Carolina team that is expected to get up and down the floor with them after Wofford's guards did a good job of slowing the tempo.

"Wofford matched up perfectly. They were a totally different team than we were," Qualls said. "North Carolina's a bigger team, and I feel like our press will be more effective against them than pressing all those guards for Wofford."

Anderson smiled during Thursday night's news conference after the Wofford game when Qualls made sure to let everyone know Arkansas has a winning tradition as well as North Carolina.

"We know we have a tremendous program," Anderson said. "Throughout the year, a lot of things have been thrown at our guys, a lot of things have been said, and they're still standing."

The Razorbacks finished second to No. 1 Kentucky in the SEC regular-season standings and at the SEC Tournament to earn their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.

"Now let's go out and continue to make a statement," Anderson said. "Go out on the floor and show people what Arkansas is made of."

Sports on 03/21/2015