Norfolk State University won’t be intimidated when it takes the floor on Friday at 6:50 p.m. ET in Raleigh, North Carolina, against the No. 1 seed Florida Gators in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans (24-10), the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions, played at East Region No. 2 seed Tennessee, a 67-52 loss, on New Year’s Eve.
NSU head coach Robert Jones said his team is more ready for a No. 1 seed because he’s seen it before against the Vols.
“Without question,” Jones said on ESPN Unsportsmanlike. “That’s why you play those games…it’s pretty much a dress rehearsal for a game like this. We were able to play five NCAA Tournament teams this year, so we had a pretty good schedule. Hence, why I’m not quite sure why we’re a 16-seed with the schedule that we had.”
They may not be intimidated, but they are a huge underdog against the Gators.
According to some of the top Florida sports betting apps, the Spartans are a 28.5-point underdog, clearly making them a Cinderella in the first-round game even though they have a huge upset from the past on their program resume.
Former NBA center Kyle O’Quinn helped lead No. 15 Norfolk State to an 86-84 upset of No. 2 Missouri in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament in Omaha, Neb.
O’Quinn led the Spartans with 26 points and 14 rebounds, including an iconic and-one tip-in layup to put Norfolk State ahead in the final minute.
Jones was the Spartans’ associate head coach when the team upset Missouri, and current Norfolk State women’s basketball head coach Larry Vickers was an assistant coach on the staff.
Ironically, the Gators and the Spartans met in the second round in Omaha that year after No. 7 seed Florida dominated Virginia in the opening round. The Gators used an early 25-0 run to open up a 29-6 lead vs. NSU and cruise to a Sweet 16 berth.
But past history gives NSU hope.
They also defeated Alabama, 80-79, in 2019 (NIT first round).
Jones, who was named a finalist by CollegeInsider.com for three prestigious recognitions last week including the Hugh Durham Award (top mid-major head coach), Ben Jobe Award (top minority head coach), and Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award (head coach who displays integrity on and off the court), is confident heading into the matchup.
“We can beat anybody,” he said. “The way the game is played now is that you’ve got high major kids that play mid major, you’ve got mid major kids that play high major. The talent level is not so distinct anymore. Even like the young man Walter Clayton, Jr., who is an amazing player, I mean he’s first team All-America, he played at Iona for a little bit, so kids are bouncing around.”
NSU secured the program’s fourth MEAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance with a 66-65 victory over South Carolina State.
They are a top 25 mid major team.
Yes, No. 16 seed Alabama State did give overall No. 1 Auburn a scare, for about 19 minutes. The Tigers had just a 3-point lead with just over a minute to play in the half before Auburn pulled away for a 20-point win.
McNeese State, a No. 12 seed in the Midwest, held on to upset No. 5 seed Clemson, the 56th time that a No. 12 seed has defeated the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament all-time. Plus, No. 11 seed Drake upset No. 6 seed Missouri in the West.
Upsets happen all the time in the NCAA Tournament.
But let’s put things in perspective.
Florida (30-4) is a No. 1 seed for several reasons.
The Gators just won a Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship in a conference that has become college basketball’s most dominant conference. Its 14 berths shattered the NCAA tournament record set by the Big East’s 11 in 2011.
Florida set an SEC Tournament record with 104 points in the semifinal win vs. No. 5 Alabama. Six Gators scored in double figures, led by Clayton’s 22 with six 3-pointers. Clayton is the first player in program history to earn First Team All-American honors.
The Gators’ eight top 25 wins this season match UF’s program record (2006-07). Five of those wins were against top 10 opponents, including three top five foes and two No. 1 teams.
They were 5-2 in such matchups. Prior to this season, Florida was 6-16 all time in top 10 showdowns.
Florida, Duke and Houston are the only three teams in the nation’s top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and the Gators enter the NCAA Tournament with the No. 1 offensive efficiency and No. 2 overall KenPom rating.
The Gators want to go where (Alijah) Martin has been and they are four wins away from a final four trip.
Florida has five Final Four appearances (1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2014) and three National Championship appearances (2000, 2006, 2007), including back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
They are 10-1 all-time as a No. 1 seed.
Norfolk State is clearly a Cinderella team.
If the Spartans were able to pull off the upset, it would mark just the third 16-over-1 upset in NCAA Tournament history.
That’s probably why Jones ended the interview by saying, “Thank you, and say a prayer for me.”