Boogie Fland yearning to help Arkansas March Madness effort

PROVIDENCE, R.I.— Boogie Fland laughed to himself as he thought about the question. It took the standout freshman a long time to come up with an answer for the last time he didn’t start a game. Finally, he had it. “I think middle school or elementary school,” the native of The Bronx said.

“I’m just willing to embrace it.Whatever is necessary for me to help the team to win off the bench, I’m going to do. “You come in off the bench, you can still bring the energy.

You can still be all over the floor.You can change the dynamic of the game.

I don’t feel like there’s a difference between starting and coming off the bench.” When the Arkansas guard suffered a right thumb injury in mid-January, he wasn’t sure if he would play again this season.Fland is just thrilled to be back, getting a shot to take part in an NCAA Tournament game for the 10th-seeded Razorbacks.

He started practicing Sunday and believes he can help. “I feel like I’m 100 percent,” the McDonald’s All-American said Wednesday, ahead of the tournament opener against No.7 Kansas at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Fland added: “This is what you prepare for.

As a kid, this is where you want to be.This is what you want to play in.

It’s a big stage, and you just got to show out.” The potential one-and-done, first-round NBA draft pick suffered the injury against Florida on Jan.11.

The 6-foot-2 guard tried to play through it but opted for surgery when it became clear it was something he couldn’t manage.Before getting hurt, he was averaging 15.1 points and 5.7 assists and shooting 36.5 percent from 3-point range. The Post breaks down the four March Madness regions with sleeper picks and predictions.At the time, Arkansas was 0-5 in the SEC and in the midst of a disappointing season.

They rallied without Fland to go dancing.Now, he will get to be a part of it. “Whatever they need, whatever coach is asking, just go out there and try to help,” Fland, a former Archbishop...