Thirteen years ago, then-number 15 seed Norfolk State defeated number two seed Missouri 86-84, the 11th time that 15 beat a two seed in tournament history.
No one gave the Spartans a shot in that game. Current Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones was an associate coach on that team.
Now, Jones has an opportunity to make a little history again as his 16-seeded Norfolk State Spartans (24-10, 14-3 MEAC) battle the number one seed, the Florida Gators(30-4, 17-4 SEC), in the first round of their West regional matchup on Friday night at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
The Gators, who are on a six-game win streak and defeated Tennessee in the SEC Tournament championship, are 28.5-point favorites. According to Vegas, the Spartans, who are hoping to be the third 16th seed to beat a one seed, have no shot, which angers Jones.
“I’m a little angry [about lopsided projections], and I’m a little more focused and coach better when I’m angry,” Jones said at a press conference on Thursday. “I think the players play better when they’re angry. A lot of times in the MEAC we’re always the hunted and not the hunter. But out of conference we’re the hunter and that’s where we try to prove ourselves. We try to show that it’s more than just the MEAC, it’s more than just being an HBCU, that we’re truly one of the best teams in the country. So I think there is a different level of focus and intensity that we bring, hence why we’ve competed well in the nonconference this year against some of the best teams in the country.
“I think tomorrow the guys are excited about the challenge. Nobody in that locker room is scared, nobody in that locker room is afraid. We’re excited about the challenge of playing the University of Florida.”
Can Norfolk State defeat Florida? No! However, anything is possible, and that’s why you play the game.
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