Getting to know: Wofford basketball

By Staff Dec 4, 2018

Wofford coach Mike Young directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

No. 2 Kansas remains unbeaten through six games, though it has been anything but dominance.

KU (6-0) needed overtime to hold off Stanford by a 90-84 margin Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks also struggled out of the gate in their two other home games against Vermont and Louisiana.

“It used to be in Allen Fieldhouse that the first five minutes were always the key for the opponents because we could put enough heat on people that it could kind of get away from teams in the first five minutes,” KU coach Bill Self said. “But we (started) the game the other day (against Stanford) and in the first five minutes they’re as comfortable as can be.”

KU plays host to Wofford (6-2) at 7 p.m. tonight.

**BREAKING DOWN WOFFORD**
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Wofford players, including Fletcher Magee (3), Matthew Pegram, left rear, and Michael Manning Jr., right rear, celebrate the team's 79-75 win over North Carolina in an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Ellen Ozier)

**TOP PLAYER**

*No. 3 — G Fletcher Magee | 6-9, so.*
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Through eight games games, Magee is leading the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game on 39 percent shooting, including a 37.9 clip from long range.

Magee continues to move up the Wofford program ranks, sitting in sixth place with 1,950 points scored. With 28 threes thus far, Magee has moved into the top-25 for career 3-pointers in NCAA history. Magee’s 384 triples rank him 24th all-time.

In addition to being named preseason player of the year for the SoCon, Magee was named to the 2018-19 Jerry West Watch List, which honors the top shooting guard in Division I men’s basketball. Magee was a finalist for the award as a junior.

Wofford's Cameron Jackson reacts during the second half against North Carolina during an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. Wofford upset North Carolina, 79-75. (AP Photo/Ellen Ozier)

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**SUPPORTING CAST**

*No. 33 — F Cameron Jackson | 6-8, sr.*
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To start the season, Jackson is one of three players averaging in double figures with 13.2 points per contest on 57.9 percent shooting. Jackson is also collecting eight rebounds a contest.

Jackson, a redshirt senior, is fast approaching the 1,000 point club, totaling 997 for his career. Jackson has been a force during his career at Wofford, recording 10 double-doubles with two already this season.

Wofford's Nathan Hoover, right, drives the ball against California's Nick Hamilton, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

In addition, Jackson recorded 45 blocked shots as a junior, which is tied for second most all-time for the Terriers. Jackson is now seventh place all-time at Wofford with 78 career blocks.

https://twitter.com/BBallSociety_/status/943692901405442048

*No. 10 — G Nathan Hoover | 6-4, jr.*
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This season, Hoover is scoring 12.9 points per outing and knocking down 41.9 percent of his shots through eight contests.

Last year, Hoover averaged 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.1 minutes played per game. Two games ago, Hoover scored a career-high 30 points on nine successful triples to lift Wofford past South Carolina on the road.

North Carolina's Luke Maye (32) shoots a 3-pointer over Wofford's Keve Aluma (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spartanburg, S.C., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. North Carolina won 78-67. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Entering Tuesday, the Terriers have won four consecutive games.

*No. 24 — F Keve Aluma | 6-9, so.*
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Aluma is the fourth Wofford player to start in all eight games to begin the 2018-19 campaign.

Aluma is second on the team in rebounding, averaging 7.0 boards per contest. Aluma has also posted 7.2 points per game, while shooting 79.3 percent from the floor. Aluma has missed his lone attempt from beyond the arc.

**ONE THING WOFFORD DOES WELL**

It is no secret that Wofford can shoot the long ball. The Terriers are hitting 38.2 percent of its 3-pointers. In addition, 42.6 percent of the Terriers’ points have come via the 3-point shot. Wofford ranked 14th in the nation in made 3-pointers last season, going 357-of-845 from downtown.

**ONE AREA WOFFORD STRUGGLES**

Because of Wofford’s reliance on 3-pointers, the team does not get to the free throw line that often. The Terriers have a free throw rate of 22.5 percent, which ranks 337th in the nation according to KenPom.

**MEET THE COACH**

The Terriers are coached by Mike Young, who is 275-241 in his 17th season at Wofford. Young guided the Terriers to victories over Georgia Tech and No. 8 North Carolina last season. The Terriers were picked to finish second in both the coaches’ and media preseason polls.

**VEGAS SAYS…**
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Woof, this is has been a rough start to the year in terms of picking against the spread. I have picked KU to cover in all six games, and that has happened just twice this year. This time around, I’m taking the points since this matchup should play into Wofford’s favor. KU is a 16-point favorite as of Tuesday morning, and I think this game will be decided by single digits.

**My prediction:** Kansas 85, Wofford 76

Record against spread: 2-4