Arkansas's women's basketball team will give up several inches in height and a handful of roster spots when it opens NCAA Tournament play today against No. 22 Northwestern at 11 a.m. at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
But the No. 10 seed Razorbacks (17-13) won't give an inch when it comes to competing against the Wildcats (23-8), the No. 7 seed in the Oklahoma City Regional.
"I think the selection committee put us in as a 10 seed because we're built to perform well on a neutral floor," said Arkansas Coach Jimmy Dykes, who is in his first season as the Razorbacks' coach. "You don't do that unless you can defend and you can rebound."
The winner will take on the winner of today's 1:30 p.m. game between No. 5-ranked Baylor (30-3) or Northwestern (La.) State (19-14).
Northwestern, which returned all five starters, has a height advantage of a few inches across its front line and a 13-player roster compared to Arkansas' nine scholarship players.
"This team is fun and exciting and the best is yet to come," Northwestern Coach Joe McKeown said of his sophomore-led team.
"They're a very athletic, hard-nosed team and they can shoot the ball," Arkansas senior Calli Berna said of the Wildcats.
Postseason experience is light for both teams.
Arkansas is back in the NCAA Tournament after a two-year drought, while Northwestern's layoff is much longer. The Wildcats' last appearance in the NCAA Tournament came in 1997, when they lost 61-46 to George Washington University, which was coached by McKeown, now in his seventh year with the Wildcats.
Northwestern went 12-6 in the Big Ten and earned a double-bye in the league tournament. The Wildcats' only losses since Feb. 1 have come against No. 4 Maryland. Northwestern averages 72.3 points per game and shoots 43.7 percent, more than 6 percent better than the Razorbacks (37.2 percent).
"They can really score, and that's what concerns us," Dykes said. "They have big, physical kids. Only one kid is a small player for them, the point guard [Ashley Deary], and she is as quick as anybody we've faced all year."
Arkansas center Jhasmin Bowen will give up at least 4 inches in height to 6-5 Northwestern center Alex Cohen.
"I respect her game, but I don't back down from anybody," Bowen said. "I don't care how tall, All-American, whatever titles that you have behind your name. That means nothing to me.
"When we get on the court, it's you against me and we'll see what happens."
The Wildcats are led by first-team All-Big Ten sophomore Nia Coffey, who averages 15.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
"It's been so long since we made the tournament, it's like a cherry on top," Coffey said.
The Razorbacks opened SEC play with six losses in their first seven games, including an 0-4 start, but they rallied to go 6-5 down the stretch to earn an NCAA berth.
"You can't put a price tag on how valuable it is to us in the first year of the program to be on this big stage in Waco," Dykes said.
Sports on 03/20/2015