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Introducing Cinderella: Meet the Wofford Terriers

Justin Gordon, Stephen Croone

(AP)

AP

Wofford v Duke

DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 31: Lee Skinner #34 of the Wofford Terriers moves the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 31, 2014 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 84-55. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Conference: Southern Conference

Coach: Mike Young

Record: 28-6 (16-2 South)

Rankings and ratings:

- Kenpom: 82
- RPI: 48
- AP/USA Today: Not ranked

Seeding: 12-13 range

Names you need to know: SoCon Player of the year, senior guard Karl Cochran (14.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 apg), junior guard Spencer Collins (11.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.5 apg), senior forward Lee Skinner (9.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg).

Stats you need to know: The Terriers have won 15 of their last 16 games entering the NCAA Tournament. Wofford has also been the winner of a lot of close games, which explains why Kenpom ranked them No. 2 in the country in luck.

Tendencies: Slowing the game down is what Wofford is interested in as they rank 315th in adjusted tempo with 61.6 possessions per 40 minutes. The Terriers try to maximize each possession and will shoot 3-pointers and knock them down at a 37 percent clip. On the defensive end, the slow tempo leads to Wofford only allowing 59.7 points per game, good enough for 22nd in the nation.

Big wins, bad losses: Wofford had a solid road win at N.C. State (something Duke couldn’t do) and also have respectable mid-major wins over Iona, Sam Houston State and Charleston Southern. In the loss column, only The Citadel was below .500 as the Terriers lost to Stanford, William & Mary, West Virginia, Duke and Chattanooga. With a non-conference strength of schedule at 18, Wofford has tested themselves frequently outside of the SoCon.

How’d they get here: The Terriers knocked off No. 8 seed UNC Greensboro, 70-52, then defeated No. 4 seed Western Carolina, 73-61, before besting No. 10 seed Furman, 67-64

Outlook: With a rigorous non-conference schedule and prior NCAA Tournament experience from last season, the Terriers won’t be afraid of the big stage and have a chance to win in the Round of 64 with the proper matchup. Especially if they sneak into the 5-12 matchup.

How do I know you?: Also a participant in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, Wofford bowed out in the Round of 64 to Wisconsin. The Terriers have now made the NCAA Tournament in four of the last six years. After winning last season’s SoCon Tournament, senior Aerris Smith gave one of the greatest postgame interviews in recent sports memory:

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