@RazorbackMBB Ready For Vols In #SECMBB Quarterfinals

AT A GLANCE
Led by SEC Player of the Year BOBBY PORTIS, No. 21/20 Arkansas earned the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament by putting together a 13-5 mark in regular season play, good for the program’s most conference wins since 1993-94. The No. 2 seed is Arkansas’ best since the SEC went away from divisions following the 2011-12 campaign. The Razorbacks and Tennessee split the season series in the regular season with the home team winning both games. The two teams last met in the SEC Tournament in 2011.

• Seventh time as a No. 2 seed with the previous six coming as the second seed in the West Division.
• Arkansas (No. 22) is one of five SEC teams in the ESPN RPI top 50.
• Ranked in both the AP Top 25 (21) and USA Today Coaches Poll (20) for the fifth straight week.
• Portis is the second Razorback to win SEC Player of the Year, joining Corliss Williamson (94, 95).
• Portis and MICHAEL QUALLS are the top scoring duo in the SEC at 33.1 points per game.

#RAZORFACT
Arkansas has improved its seed in the SEC Tournament by at least two spots each of the last three years under head coach MIKE ANDERSON.

@RAZORBACKMBB FAST BREAK FACTS
• No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament is a program-best since 2008.
• Has won at least one SEC Tournament game in five of six appearances as the No. 2 seed (all West Division) and hold a 6-5 mark.
• Most overall wins (24) since 1997-98 and the most SEC wins (13) since 1994.
• One of 19 teams in the country with 24 or more regular season wins.
• Currently No. 22 in the ESPN RPI with 10 wins over the top 100.
• One of eight teams with three top 50 RPI road wins – SMU (No. 15), Georgia (No. 38) & Ole Miss (No. 49).
• No. 5 seed in the East Region in Joe Lunardi’s most recent Bracketology released on March 10 that includes six SEC teams.
• Own a 7-3 record in SEC games decided by five points or less.
• Won four SEC games after trailing at the half, including three on the road.
• Rank in the top 20 nationally in points (79.0/10th), assists (16.8/7th), assist/turnover ratio (1.4/11th), turnover margin (+4.5/7th) and offensive rebounds (13.1) – all SEC bests.
• Lead the SEC in overall scoring (79.0) and in SEC games (75.1).
• Won 29 straight games when leading at the half.
• Own a 20-0 record when forcing 15+ turnovers.

SEC TOURNAMENT BREAKDOWN
Overall Record (Appearances): 20-22 (23)
Before 2011: 20-19
Since 2011: 0-3

Note: SEC went away from East and West Divisions after the 2010-11 season.

Record by Round
First Round 3-10
Quarterfinals 11-2
Semifinals 5-6
Finals 1-5

FOLLOWING HIS MENTOR
Growing up in Little Rock, sophomore BOBBY PORTIS was coached during his youth AAU days by former Arkansas Final Four MVP and current Sacramento Kings assistant CORLISS WILLIAMSON. Portis grew up idolizing Williamson and on Tuesday he joined his mentor as the only two Razorbacks to be named SEC Player of the Year. Portis’ SEC Player of the Year nod comes 20 years after Williamson captured his second straight in 1995.

“Coach Corliss was a father figure to me growing up. He was more than my coach. I wanted to be like him on and off the floor so everything he told me I listened to it. He was able to represent the state of Arkansas when he played and I’m happy I get to do the same.” – Bobby Portis

FIRST TIME SINCE …

^ – Program record
* – Equals program record

CLOSING IN ON HISTORY
In less than two full years as a Razorback, sophomore BOBBY PORTIS has already put his name in the conversation with some of Arkansas’ elite players in program history. With at least two games left, Portis is closing in on a few more records.
• Just 29 points and one rebound shy of becoming the first player in Arkansas history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds as a sophomore.
• Trying to become the third player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau as a sophomore. TODD DAY did so in 1990 and SCOTTY THURMAN accomplished the feat in 1994.

STARTING 5 QUICK 5 HITS
#31 | Anton BEARD (G)
• Third Razorback in the last four years on the SEC All-Freshman team.
• Started the last 11 games (8-3), averaging 7.5 points.
• Reached double figures seven times in SEC play after once in non-conf.
• Taken a team-high 14 charges.
• Named SEC Freshman of the Week on Feb. 23.
#00 | Rashad MADDEN (G)
• 30th all-time in program history with 1,070 career points.
• His 150 assists are the most by a Razorback since 2008-09.
• Fifth all-time with 356 career assists.
• Team leader with a plus/minus rating of +251 on the year.
• Second in the SEC in assists (4.8) and free throw percentage (.867).
#24 | Michael QUALLS (G)
• Scored his 1,000th career point last time out against LSU.
• Named to the All-SEC second team and USBWA All-District VII squad.
• Seventh in the SEC in scoring at 15.3 points per game.
• Has appeared on the #SCtop10 13 times in his career.
• Increased scoring average by 10.7 points since his freshman season.
#02 | Alandise HARRIS (F)
• Returned to the starting lineup 14 games (11-3) ago.
• Four of six double figure games in SEC play came on the road.
• Scored 1,177 points over his career at Arkansas and Houston.
• One of seven players in the SEC with 25 steals and 25 blocks.
• Also has career totals over 500 rebounds and 100 blocks.
#10 | Bobby PORTIS (F)
• First Razorback in 20 years to be named SEC Player of the Year.
• Named the USBWA District VII Player of the Year.
• One of three high major players averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.
• League-leader in scoring (18.6) and double-doubles (9) in SEC play.
• Career-best 26 straight games in double figures.