Wofford College Athletics

No. 1N Western Carolina vs. No. 2S Wofford
Sunday, March 6, 2011

Western Carolina Catamounts
Head Coach Larry Hunter
Opening Statement:…..“Wofford is an awfully good basketball team. They were able to go on the 13-1 run midway through the first half to give them a lead that we were not able to overcome. I am really proud of the way we competed. We needed our center Richie Gordon to be more productive than he was against a team of Wofford’s caliber. Our guys really did play hard.

On Mike Williams’ play:…..“None (played) harder than him. He competed his guts out and had a great year for us.”

“They haven’t shown any depth, but their bench outscored us tonight. We had been doing that consistently to other people. Obviously they made it a point of emphasis. They played nine people in the first half and all nine of them scored. That shows you what diversity they have. When they made that run, we subbed and had four freshmen on the floor. They are a good passing team. We forced them into some turnovers but they are a very good executing team.”

On competitiveness of the league:…..“I thought the league was very good overall. Thought there a lot of competitive basketball teams. We have some really good coaches and some great kids. There were a lot of upperclassman, and there are some good freshmen too. I thought it was a great year for Southern Conference basketball.”

On play of Trey Sumler for the year:…..“Trey has had a great year. He has a very consistent year. To do what we asked him to do to run our team and understand the offense. He plays a great defense and gives a lot of energy. He learned last year, being a redshirt, how hard you have to play for our program. He is a great competitor.


Senior Guard Mike Williams
On Wofford 13-1 run:…..“We just had some breakdowns on defense. We weren’t blocking out and killed us on the boards during that stretch. That really hurt us.


Wofford Terriers
Head Coach Mike Young
Opening Statement…….“We tip our hat to a very fine Western Carolina team and they are as well coached as anybody I have ever coached against. At the end of the day, we have been through these pressure type of games before. Western Carolina’s Sumner and Boggs will be great players in this league and we knew they would be tough coming in. However, I got these two guys next to me that get the job done too. Needless to say, we are excited to compete against Charleston or Furman tomorrow night.”

Have you envisioned all this success…….“I have envisioned it, but on our journey I have had some concerns, but you know I have the best guys playing for me I feel. We really work together and are a family. We are playing great basketball right now and have been for three weeks dating back to senior night against Georgia Southern, Ball State, Chattanooga here, Furman on road, Appalachian State and now Western Carolina. It has been tough, but feels real good to be here.”

Talk about your superstitions……..“We were going to a different restaurant today, and someone said to me we need to go to the same place as yesterday. I thought to myself, yes we do. We have to stick with what got us here. However, when it is all said and done we have really good players with guts. We will rely on that primarily and not any silly superstitions.”

Talk about when Tim Johnson went out…“It is the next man in line mentality. We have great trust in one another. We have a tough time without Jamar Diggs in the game though. Diggs had two fouls in first half and we had to have guys step up off the bench. Terry Martin did a great job. He would start for a lot of teams in this league. Nathan Parker came back a few weeks ago and on the big stage he was awfully good for us last night and tonight. Nathan Parker is simply a “cat.”

Talk about the emotion and confidence from last year’s conference title in Charlotte.
“It was the most incredible experience ever being close in proximity to home. Our outstanding CFO Bob Kiesler who is here this tonight set up a thing where a bunch of students got to come to Charlotte and experience the tournament with us. Wofford is a special place and we all cheer for one another. To be in that environment was special. We had a similar semi-final game last year with Western Carolina where it was close in the half, and we ended up winning by 17, but it was tough just like tonight. Then we beat Appalachian State in the title which was awesome. It was the best moment in my professional career. It is one thing to do it, but to do it with kids you admire and have the outmost respect for is special. These guys have great class. We represent our great college with unbelievable poise and character.

Talk about playing against Furman or College of Charleston……..“It will be hard. Coach Jackson and the Furman team have done an incredible job this year and they have great players. The Cougars have great players as well. That is what a conference final is all about. Either one will offer a test. We have lost to Furman and College of Charleston so we have twenty four hours to turn it around. One thing I know is we will compete and fight no matter what.”

Talk about playing Monday Night at 9pm on a work night and during the school week……
It is hard, but it is championship week and who would not want to be a part of it? We would play a game at midnight if we had too. We had our fans out there tonight and I expect more to be out tomorrow night along with the City of Chattanooga, and the great folks that organized this tournament. Again, it does not matter what time we play. Our guys play in late summer league games.”


Senior Guard Jamar Diggs
Talk about the teams that are left in the tournament and them being all in the south division…… Was the competition better in the South Division………?
“I do not think so really. I look at it as we have 12 teams in our conference. I mean one conference is split up and that is the way it is. You may get a bye or something in the North this year when you should not have, but it can be that way in the south some years too. I mean, maybe Furman feels they got snubbed, but the truth is I just look at who we play next. All 12 teams are good.”

Talk about the relationships you guys have from Minnesota……Cameron, Noah, me are from Minnesota, but when I transferred here, 16 guys became family. I knew Noah and Cam, and it was tough at first, but this is a great family.


Senior Guard Cameron Rundles
Talk about sense of pride with this team………
I think we struggled a little in the beginning of the year, but we have shown it is tough to beat us in March again, and until someone beats us, we are still the champions of this conference. We will get a tough test against the Paladins or Cougars tomorrow so we shall see.

Talk about the relationships amongst you guys from Minnesota and with the other 13 guys……
“Anyone that grows up playing ball as a kid dreams about getting a scholarship to college and then going on to the NBA, however, you don’t really dream about the experience and relationships you are going to build when you are younger. We experienced something that is very special last year and went through it as a family. To do this all over again staying in a hotel for five or six days is so much fun. It is all about March Madness and it is fun watching the bigger programs go through it as well. You cannot imagine it – you have to go through it. We are one game away from going to the NCAA’s again, and tomorrow will be great test, but that is why you play the game. You want to play close games in March. Big players make big plays.”