Wofford's Basketball Ranking: Secrets To Their Success

why is wofford ranked basketball

The Wofford Terriers men's basketball team has been ranked in the NCAA Division I, representing Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The team has seen success in recent years, making six appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, including a spot in the 2025 tournament. During the 2018-19 season, Wofford was nationally ranked for the first time in school history, finishing with a notable 30-5 record. The Terriers have also won four regular-season SoCon titles and five SoCon Tournament Championships. In 2019, Wofford star Fletcher Magee broke the NCAA record for All-Time Career Three Pointers, winning the Lou Henson Award that year.

shunwild

Wofford Terriers' NCAA tournament appearances

The Wofford Terriers men's basketball team has had several notable NCAA tournament appearances in recent years. Representing Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Terriers play in Division I of the NCAA, competing in the Southern Conference.

The Terriers have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament six times, most recently in 2025. Their combined record is 1-5, with their lone win coming against Seton Hall in 2019.

In 2010, the Terriers made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament after winning the Southern Conference tournament. They came close to upsetting 4th-seeded Wisconsin in the first round but ultimately lost 53-49.

The Terriers qualified for the tournament for the second time in 2011, again winning the Southern Conference tournament. However, they were eliminated in the first round by BYU, 74-66.

Wofford made its third appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2013, after winning the Southern Conference tournament for the third time in five years. This time, they lost to Michigan in the second round.

The Terriers also qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2015, going 28-6, and set an NCAA record in February 2016 by hitting 17 of 21 shots from the three-point line against VMI.

During the 2018-19 season, Wofford was nationally ranked for the first time in school history, finishing with a 30-5 record and an undefeated 18-0 in the Southern Conference. As a 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament, they defeated 10th-seeded Seton Hall 84-68 in the first round, with Fletcher Magee breaking the NCAA record for All-Time Career Three Pointers made. They then lost to Kentucky 62-56 in the second round, finishing the season ranked #19 in the AP Top 25.

In 2022, Wofford initially accepted a bid to play in The Basketball Classic but ultimately withdrew before their game against Youngstown State.

shunwild

Wofford's ranking in the AP Top 25 poll

The Wofford Terriers men's basketball team has had a successful run in the NCAA, representing Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The team has appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament six times, with a combined record of 1-5.

In the 2018-19 season, Wofford was nationally ranked for the first time in its history. The Terriers finished with an impressive 30-5 record and an undefeated 18-0 in the Southern Conference, the first SoCon team to do so in the modern era. They spent the final five weeks in the AP Top 25 poll, finishing at #19.

Wofford's historic run saw them climb to the Top 25, entering at #24 on the Associated Press list and later at #25 on the USA Today coaches' list. The team's four losses that season were to nationally ranked power-five conference teams: North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State.

Wofford's success continued in the 2019-20 season, with a notable win against the 17th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. The following season, 2020-21, was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, shortening the season and requiring games to be played without fans. Despite these challenges, Wofford finished second in the SoCon during the regular season.

The Terriers have continued to leave their mark in the NCAA, with six sold-out home games at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium and notable wins against ranked opponents. Their performance has earned them recognition in the AP Top 25 poll and a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

shunwild

Wofford's performance in the Southern Conference

Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, has had its men's basketball team, the Wofford Terriers, playing Division I basketball in the Southern Conference since the 1997–98 season. The Terriers have won four regular-season SoCon titles and five SoCon tournament championships, with one SoCon tournament runner-up place.

The 2018-19 season was a historic one for the Terriers. They finished with a 30-5 record and an 18-0 record in the Southern Conference, the first undefeated SoCon season in the modern era. They clinched their first-ever national ranking, finishing the season ranked #19 in the AP Top 25 poll. The Terriers also won the Southern Conference tournament, beating Furman 77-67 in the final, to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the sixth time.

In the 2019-20 season, Wofford finished seventh in the Southern Conference during the regular season but made a run in the Southern Conference Tourney, reaching the SoCon title game for the second year in a row, eventually losing to ETSU. The following season, 2020-21, was significantly impacted by COVID-19, with no fans allowed to attend games. Wofford finished second in the SoCon during the regular season, with a record of 19-15, only half a game behind UNC-G.

The Terriers have an overall record of 1-5 in the NCAA Tournament. They qualified for the tournament for the first time in 2011, losing to BYU in the first round. They returned to the tournament in 2013, losing to Michigan in the second round, and again in 2015, going 28-6. In 2019, as a 7-seed, they defeated 10th-seeded Seton Hall 84-68 in the first round before losing to Kentucky in the second round.

shunwild

Wofford Terriers' basketball coaches

The Wofford Terriers men's basketball team has had several coaches over the years, with the most recent being Dwight Perry, who was promoted to head coach during the 2022-23 season after Jay McAuley left the team. McAuley took over as head coach in 2019 from Mike Young, who left to become the new head coach at Virginia Tech. Young led the team to its first-ever national ranking during the 2018-19 season, finishing with a 30-5 record and going undefeated in the Southern Conference. The Terriers spent the final five weeks of that season in the AP Top 25 poll, finishing at #19.

Under Young's leadership, the Terriers qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in 2019, defeating Seton Hall in the first round before losing to Kentucky in the second. During this game, Wofford star shooting guard Fletcher Magee broke the NCAA record for most career three-pointers made. Magee went on to win the 2019 Lou Henson Award as the most outstanding mid-major men's college basketball player in NCAA Division I competition.

Prior to Young's tenure, the Terriers were coached by Kevin Giltner, who served as an assistant coach. Giltner played a crucial role in the team's success, as evidenced by his presence in the meeting room when the team first cracked the Top 25 rankings. It was Giltner who alerted Young to the nonstop alert notifications on their phones, signifying the team's historic achievement.

Another notable coach in the history of the Wofford Terriers is Brad Loesing, who was not only a talented player but also an exemplary student. Loesing, a point guard and 4.0 Phi Beta Kappa student, was selected as a first-team Division 1 Academic All-American in 2011 and 2012. While it is unclear if he had any formal coaching role, his leadership and mentorship likely had a lasting impact on the team's culture and success.

The Wofford Terriers basketball program has a rich history, with numerous appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament and a strong showing in the Southern Conference. The team's success can be attributed to the dedication and leadership of its coaches, who have guided the team to victory and helped shape the players' skills and character.

shunwild

Wofford Terriers' players

The Wofford Terriers men's basketball team represents Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in Division I of the NCAA. The Terriers are coached by Dwight Perry, who was promoted to head coach after Jay McAuley left the team during the 2022-23 season.

The Terriers have appeared six times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2025. They have won four regular-season SoCon titles and five SoCon Tournament Championships and are one-time SoCon Tournament runner-ups. The team plays its home games at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, which opened for the 2017-18 season.

During the 2018-19 season, Wofford was nationally ranked for the first time in school history. They finished with a 30-5 record and 18-0 in the Southern Conference, the first undefeated SoCon season in the modern era. Star shooting guard Fletcher Magee broke the NCAA record for All-Time Career Three Pointers made during their first-round victory over Seton Hall. They lost to Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA tournament, and Magee went on to win the 2019 Lou Henson Award for the most outstanding mid-major men's college player in NCAA Division I competition.

In addition to Magee, several other Wofford Terriers players have achieved notable successes. Point guard Brad Loesing was selected as a first-team Division 1 Academic All-American in 2011. More recently, Chaz Lanier scored 29 points on his NCAA Tournament debut against Tennessee.

The Wofford Terriers also have football and volleyball teams. The football team, which has won 7 Southern Conference Championships, is coached by Josh Conklin and plays its home games at the 13,000-seat Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg.

Frequently asked questions

Wofford is ranked in basketball due to its successful basketball team, the Wofford Terriers, who have a strong history of appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament. In 2019, the team was ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in the school's history. The Terriers have won four regular-season SoCon titles, five SoCon Tournament Championships, and have appeared in the NCAA tournament six times.

The Wofford Terriers men's basketball team has had several notable achievements. During the 2018-19 season, the team finished with a 30-5 record and went undefeated (18-0) in the Southern Conference, a historic feat. In 2013, they won the Southern Conference tournament and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the third time in five years. They also set an NCAA record in February 2016 when they made 17 out of 21 shots from the three-point line against VMI.

Notable players and coaches for the Wofford Terriers include shooting guard Fletcher Magee, who broke the NCAA record for All-Time Career Three Pointers during the 2018-19 season. Brad Loesing, a point guard and academic standout, was selected as a first-team Division 1 Academic All-American in 2011. The team has also been coached by Mike Young, who led the team to its first Top 25 ranking, and Jay McAuley, who took over as head coach after Young's departure.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment