Final: That's all for tonight from Jacksonville, Florida. The Wofford Terriers played their hearts out but it just wasn't enough. Best of luck to the Arkansas Razorbacks as they face the North Carolina Tar Heels in the round of 32.
Final: Michael Qualls was amazing to watch tonight too, scoring 20 points on 8-9 shooting from the floor.
Final: The VAVEL USA player of the game is most definitely Bobby Portis. 15 points, 19 rebounds.
Final: Karl Cochran appeared to have been hurt during this game, and he was only able to shoot 4-19 from the floor including 2-12 from three.
Final: Heartbreak again for the Wofford Terriers as they still haven't won an NCAA Tournament game in their history, despite coming oh so close in this contest.
2H 0:00 - Time has just expired. Karl Cochran and Eric Garcia both missed three pointers that were rather open, but couldn't get the bucket to fall. ARK 56, WOF 53.
2H 0:37 - Rashad Madden misses a three pointer and Eric Garcia gets a rebound for the Terriers.
2H 0:53 - Arkansas calls another timeout. ARK 56, WOF 53.
2H 1:10 - Spencer Collins misses a three point attempt for Wofford. ARK 56, WOF 53.
2H 1:40 - Alandise Harris hits the free throw and it is an Arkansas timeout. ARK 56, WOF 53.
2H 1:40 - Alandise Harris hits the bucket and draws a foul. ARK 55, WOF 53.
2H 1:50 - Eric Garcia hits a long two for the Terriers. WOF 53, ARK 53.
2H 2:10 - Bobby Portis with an easy layup and the Razorbacks have the advantage. ARK 53, WOF 51.
2H 2:50 - Karl Cochran bumps the Arkansas player. Rashad Madden misses the front of the one and one, it is double bonus for both teams from here on out.
2H 3:30 - Rashad Madden with another two point jumper. ARK 51, WOF 51.
2H 3:41 - Karl Cochran sinks just one free throw. Extends the lead to 2. WOF 51, ARK 49.
2H 3:41 - Karl Cochran fouled on his shot attempt. Free throws after the break. Final TV timeout of the game. WOF 50, ARK 49.
2H 4:13 - Bobby Portis draws another foul. Makes the first free throw and the second free throw. WOF 50, ARK 49.
2H 4:28 - Spencer Collins is now at the line. Sinks both of his free throws. WOF 50, ARK 47.
2H 5:01 - Michael Qualls missed the first end of a one and one. Terriers grab the board. WOF 48, ARK 47.
2H 5:08 - C.J. Neumann makes a put back layup for the Terriers. WOF 48, ARK 47.
2H 5:21 - Bobby Portis gets an offensive rebound and puts it in with a rebound. Makes his free throw. ARK 47, WOF 46.
2H 5:38 - Lee Skinner misses both this time. WOF 46, ARK 44.
2H 5:38 - Lee Skinner gets his defender up in the air again. Two more free throws. WOF 46, ARK 44.
2H 6:12 - Lee Skinner makes both of his free throws. WOF 46, ARK 44.
2H 6:29 - Michael Qualls does it again, put back layup to tie the game. ARK 44, WOF 44.
2H 7:02 - Terriers inbound the ball into the corner and are trapped. Wofford Terriers take a timeout to retain possession.
2H 7:04 - Jaylen Allen draws another foul on Alandise Harris. WOF 44, ARK 42.
2H 7:45 - Jaylen Allen with a transition three pointer back the other way. WOF 44, ARK 42.
2H 7:55 - Michael Qualls explodes in the air for a transition dunk. ARK 42, WOF 41.
2H 8:24 - Anton Beardwith a personal foul for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
2H 8:52 - Michael Qualls with another big dunk. The guy knows how to get in the air. WOF 41, ARK 40.
2H 10:38 - Spencer Collins makes another one in traffic. WOF 41, ARK 38.
2H 11:00 - Jacorey Williams with a big block for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Karl Cochran is off the court right now due to an injury. WOF 39, ARK 38.
2H 11:46 - Jaylen Allen sinks the free throw and they have the lead. WOF 39, ARK 38.
2H 11:46 - Jaylen Allen wrestles the rebound away from two Arkansas defenders and lays it in off the glass for two. Fouled on the play, free throw after the tv timeout. WOF 38, ARK 38.
2H 12:07 - Moses Kingley with an easy layup as he came down the lane. ARK 38, WOF 36.
2H 12:39 - Karl Cochran hits the second free throw, and the game is tied. WOF 36, ARK 36.
2H 12:39 - Karl Cochran drives down the floor and is fouled by Rashad Madden. ARK 36, WOF 35.
2H 13:21 - Bobby Portis was able to get an offensive rebound and put it back to retake the lead. ARK 36, WOF 35.
2H 15:01 - Karl Cochran hits a 3 point shot for the Terriers. They lead again. WOF 35, ARK 34.
2H 15:18 - Alandise Harris makes the second free throw. ARK 34, WOF 32.
2H 15:18 - Arkansas draws another foul from down by the glass. TV timeout. ARK 33, WOF 32.
2H 15:35 - John Swinton drives the lane and is able to get an easy two. ARK 33, WOF 32.
2H 16:35 - Michael Qualls get the bucket from the paint on the next trip down. ARK 33, WOF 30.
2H 16:57 - Spencer Collins gets the offensive rebound and puts it back in. ARK 31, WOF 30.
2H 18:09 - Alandise Harris makes a jumper on an in bounds play. ARK 31, WOF 28.
2H 18:45 - Bobby Portis fouled by Lee Skinner, but he misses both free throws. ARK 29, WOF 28.
2H 19:14 - Turnover called on the Terriers, Arkansas ball. ARK 29, WOF 28.
2H 19:18 - Michael Qualls gets an amazing steal and gets an easy dunk. ARK 29, WOF 28.
Halftime: Michael Qualls of the Razorbacks and Spencer Collins of the Wofford Terriers both have 10 points so far at the half. Bobby Portis leads all players with 12 rebounds already in one half of play.
Halftime: It's a very balanced game so far, but the Wofford Terriers only have 2 turnovers, while the Arkansas Razorbacks have 6.
Halftime: Arkansas is not able to get a shot off as the pressure from the Wofford Terriers was that good. Wofford Terriers 28, Arkansas Razorbacks 27.
1H 0:21 - Foul underneath on a rebound by Bobby Portis, but no shot. Shot clock is gone and Mike Anderson has called a timeout for the Razorbacks. WOF 28, ARK 27.
1H 0:51 - Jaylen Allen with a three pointer from the left side, WOF 28, ARK 27.
1H 1:11 - Jabril Durham hits a three pointer to retake the lead. ARK 27, WOF 25.
1H 2:05 - Lee Skinner breaks through the lane and they find him with the ball. WOF 25, ARK 24.
1H 2:15 - Bobby Portis dunks it away for the Razorbacks, they take back the lead ARK 24, WOF 23.
1H 3:05 - Justin Gordon misses the first one, makes the second one. WOF 23, ARK 22.
1H 3:05 - Justin Gordon fouled by Michael Qualls on a dunk attempt. Free throws coming up after the TV timeout. WOF 22, ARK 22.
1H 3:30 - Spencer Collins lays it up for the Terriers this time. WOF 22, ARK 22.
1H 3:53 - Michael Qualls splits a few defenders and gets to the hoop to lay it in. ARK 22, WOF 20, Qualls with 10 points.
1H 4:10 - Collins makes the first and third, but missed the middle one. WOF 20, ARK 20.
1H 4:10 - Spencer Collins fouled ona three point shot attempt. Maybe these will help get the Terriers out of their slump. ARK 20, WOF 18.
1H 4:44 - Michael Qualls stepped on the baseline, Arkansas turnover. ARK 20, WOF 18.
1H 5:00 - After this stoppage of play, Arkansas is charged with a delay of game warning. ARK 20, WOF 18.
1H 5:00 - So, Rashad Madden was without a shoe after his dunk, and then after they got the ball back, one of the players on the Arkansas Razorbacks bench threw a shoe onto the floor. Official timeout. ARK 20, WOF 18.
1H 5:31 - Rashad Madden easily ahead of the crowd as they lay it in. ARK 20, WOF 18.
1H 6:07 - Lee Skinner with a travel for Wofford, their third turnover of the game. ARK 18, WOF 18.
1H 6:35 - Michael Qualls drew a foul on Jaylen Allen. Qualls hit both free throws to tie the game. ARK 18, WOF 18.
1H 7:14 - Bobby Portis makes his first field goal of the night. WOF 18, ARK 16.
1H 7:50 - Wofford Terriers take a shot clock violation which means it is time for a TV timeout. WOF 18, ARK 14.
1H 8:07 - Wofford Terriers take a quick timeout to avoid a penalty for defensive 5 seconds on their player without being able to pass. WOF 18, ARK 14.
1H 8:27 - Bobby Portis makes just one of his free throws. WOF 18, ARK 14.
1H 8:27 - Bobby Portis has it near the goal and is fouled by Lee Skinner. WOF 18, ARK 13.
1H 9:12 - Karl Cochran with another jumper as the Wofford Terriers extend the lead back to 5. WOF 18, ARK 13.
Miscommunciation, Karl Cochran hit a two, and Spencer Collins hit a 3. Score is still correct though. WOF 16, ARK 13.
1H 9:50 - Moses Kingsley puts in an easy dunk as the Terriers miscommunicated on that defensive play. WOF 16, ARK 13.
1H 10:11 - Spencer Collins makes another bucket for the Terriers. WOF 16, ARK 11.
1H 10:46 - Karl Cochran hits another 3 pointer for the Terriers. WOF 14, ARK 11.
1H 11:10 - Jacorey Williams makes up for the foul by hitting a jumper to tie the game. ARK 11, WOF 11.
1H 11:57 - Foul on the floor on Jacorey Williams of Arkansas. TV timeout. WOF 11, ARK 9.
1H 12:09 - Arkansas just committed their 4th turnover of the evening already. Wofford ball. WOF 11, ARK 9.
1H 13:20 - Michael Qualls hits a three pointer of his own. WOF 11, ARK 9.
1H 13:28 - Spencer Collins hits a quick three out of the in bounds pass. WOF 11, ARK 6.
Some other recent finals include an overtime victory for the #8 Cincinnati Bearcats as they scored 66 compared to the 65 for the #9 Purdue Boilermakers.
1H 13:39 - Wofford ball, Arkansas had deflected it out of bounds as it looks like this just may be a defensive thriller. WOF 8, ARK 6 at the first TV timeout.
1H 14:35 - Karl Cochran hits a three for the Terriers. WOF 8, ARK 6.
1H 15:11 - Michael Qualls for the Razorbacks and Jaylen Allen of the Terriers both nailed three pointers. ARK 6, WOF 5.
1H 16:45 - Offensive Foul on Rashad Madden of the Razorbacks. ARK 3, WOF 2.
1H 16:58 - Wofford with a chance under the goal but they are unable to get the ball in the basket. ARK 3, WOF 2.
1H 18:08 - Justin Gordon with a major dunk for the Terriers. ARK 3, WOF 2.
1H 18:48 - Bobby Portis makes the first of the two free throw attempts. ARK 3, WOF 0.
1H 19:05 - Alandise Harris makes a jumper and the Razorbacks are on the board first. ARK 2, WOF 0.
1H 20:00 - Bobby Portis wins the tip off for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Tip off for this game has been moved back 9 minutes because of a delayed finish in the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Harvard Crimson. The Tar Heels won 67-65. The winner of this contest will play North Carolina.
The player to watch in this game is certainly Bobby Portis of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was recently voted the SEC Player of the Year by coaches in the league both this year and last year. He averages 17.5 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. He has been shooting 55% from the floor this season and an amazing 46% from behind the arc. This all factors in to why he is considered to be a potential first round NBA draft pick, if he decides to the leave the Arkansas Razorbacks after this season.
The Arkansas Razorbacks have a record of 5-5 against fellow NCAA Tournament teams. Their victories are against the SMU Mustangs (78-72), Dayton Flyers (69-55), Georgia Bulldogs (79-75, 60-49), and Ole Miss Rebels (71-70). But they had several losses as well, including those against the Iowa State Cyclones (95-77), Ole Miss Rebels (96-82), LSU Tigers (81-78), and the Kentucky Wildcats (84-67, 78-63).
The Arkansas Razorbacks are near the top of the country in two big statistics. They are 16th in points per game with 78 points, and 12th in assists per game with 12.1.
The projected starting 5 for this contest for the Arkansas Razorbacks is as follows, Senior Forward Alandise Harris (6'6", 230 lbs), Junior Forward Jacorey Williams (6'8", 218 lbs), Sophomore Forward Bobby Portis (6'11", 242 lbs), Senior Guard Rashad Madden (6'5", 182 lbs), and Freshman Guard Anton Beard (6'0", 195 lbs). They are coached by a longtime assistant of Nolan Richardson, Mike Anderson, who is in his fourth year as the Head Coach of the team.
This writer is still able to remember the Arkansas Razorbacks teams coached by Nolan Richardson, who won the NCAA Tournament Title in 1994, and were the runners-up in the 1995 tournament. But it has been a while since the Razorbacks have made the tournament, with their last appearance being back in 2008, where they were a #9 seed, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 86-72, before running into the North Carolina Tar Heels, losing 108-77.
The Arkansas Razorbacks did win their first two conference tournament games, defeating the Tennessee Volunteers (80-72), and the Georgia Bulldogs (60-49).
The Arkansas Razorbacks did not win their conference tournament, but instead they made it into the tournament as an at large team. They did make it into the final game of the Southeastern Conference tournament, where they met their season long nemesis, the Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats were able to get that victory as they moved to 34-0, defeating the Razorbacks 78-63.
In the last 5 NCAA Tournaments, the #12 seeds have defeated the #5 seeds 66% of the time. Wofford could easily be a team that someone in your bracket pool is cheering for, simply because they are playing that 12-5 upset.
The history for the Wofford Terriers in the NCAA Tournament is not pretty. They have gone 0-3, including losses to the #4 Wisconsin Badgers back in 2010 (53-49), the #3 BYU Cougars in 2011 (74-66), and the #2 Michigan Wolverines in 2014 (57-40). This means that the #12 ranking that Wofford has this season is the highest they have ever been ranked in the NCAA Tournament.
The key player for the Wofford Terriers is Karl Cochran. The Senior Guard leads the team in points per game with 14.6 and rebounds per game with 5.2. The main downside for him is that he is only a 65.7% free throw shooter, but the upside is he is their primary three point shooter, having made 96 three pointers this season, and the closest any teammate comes to that is Spencer Collins with 41 three pointers made.
The most likely starting five for the Wofford Terriers in this contest would be Senior Forward Lee Skinner (6'6", 220 lbs), Junior Forward Justin Gordon, (6'6", 205 lbs), Senior Guard Karl Cochran (6'1", 175 lbs), Junior Guard Spencer Collins (6'4", 195 lbs), and Sophomore Guard Eric Garcia (6'1", 181 lbs). The Terriers are coached by Mike Young, who has been the coach there since the start of the 2002 college basketball season.
The Wofford Terriers hold a 1-2 record against teams that made this year's NCAA Tournament. Those include a road victory over the NC State Wolfpack on December 14, 55-54, but also includes road losses to both the West Virginia Mountaineers (77-44), and the Duke Blue Devils (84-55).
The Wofford Terriers made the NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning the Southern Conference Tournament. They finished with a season long record of 28-6, including 16-2 inside their own conference. Their victories in the conference tournament came over the UNC Greensboro Spartans (70-52), Western Carolina Catamounts (73-61), and the Furman Paladins (67-64).
Hello, and welcome to VAVEL USA’s NCAA Tournament coverage of the Thursday, March 19, 2015, evening match up between the #5 Arkansas Razorbacks and the #12 Wofford Terriers, taking place at 9:50 PM ET in Jacksonville, Florida as part of the West Region. Yours truly, Caleb Wahlgren, will be right on the action with play by play commentary.