Norfolk State coach 'angry' about being heavy underdog as a 16-seed vs 1-seed Florida basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. ― Norfolk State basketball coach Robert Jones says he coaches better when he's angry.
Jones didn't have much to smile about heading into his matchup against No. 1 seed Florida basketball on Friday at the Lenovo Center (6:50 p.m, TNT)
Specifically, Jones wondered why the 16-seeded Spartans (24-10), who played a handful of power conference teams tough during their non-conference schedule, enters its matchup with the Florida Gators as a 28.5-point underdog.
"Florida is really, really good and they bring a great program, great players, but are we that bad that the point spread is like that," Jones said. "So, I'm a little angry and I'm a little more focused and coach better when I'm angry. I think the players play better when they are angry."
Norfolk State, winners of the MEAC conference for the third time in five years, is a program with a history of pulling off upsets. In 2012, as a 15-seed, Norfolk State stunned No. 2 seed Missouri 86-84 behind 26 points from center Kyle O'Quinn. In 2019, as an 8-seed in the NIT, Norfolk State beat top-seed Alabama 80-79.
Can Norfolk State upset Florida basketball?
Jones said one of the keys for Norfolk State will be to keep Florida senior point guard Walter Clayton Jr., a consensus All-American, from taking over the game.
"He's been difficult for everyone in the country," Jones said. "We just want to slow him down. For the last five games he's been averaging even more than he's been averaging the whole season, he's been averaging 21 points per game, shooting 42% from 3, those are real numbers ....
"We can't allow him to have the big, big game ... he's public enemy number one and we have to do a good job collectively, slowing him down. It's not going to be one person."
Jones said he ratcheted up Norfolk State's non-conference schedule by design this season, with mixed results. The Spartans played Tennessee tough in Knoxville, Tenn., before falling 67-52. Norfolk State also was competitive in a non-conference loss at Stanford (70-63) but not as competitive in a non-conference loss at Baylor (94-69). In addition, Norfolk State upset High Point 77-74, a team that's a 13-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
"We definitely used those games as a launching point, a baseline for how we know we have to perform to just even be in the game let alone winning it," Norfolk State forward Christian Ings said. "So, using those games against Tennessee and Baylor, we used those as markers to let us know where we were and how far we have to go to get to our goal."
Ings (11.9 ppg), a grad transfer from Rider, and guard Brian Moore Jr. (18.4 ppg), a grad transfer from Murray State, form an experienced backcourt tandem capable of handling and applying pressure. Norfolk State scores 15.6 points off turnovers per game.
These are heady days on the Norfolk State campus, as both the men's and women's programs are in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Newport News, Va., native and former NFL standout quarterback Michael Vick has returned to take over as head coach of the football program.
"It's just amazing for Norfolk State," Moore said. "I think we're getting a lot of national attention, and it's on us to keep that going."
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Norfolk State coach upset about point spread in matchup with No. 1 seed Florida basketball
Topics
-
Norfolk St. 'angry' over massive underdog status
Norfolk State coach Robert Jones, whose Spartans are 27.5-point underdogs to No. 1 seed Florida on ESPN Bet, is "a little angry" over how heavily the Gators are favored for Friday's first-round ...ESPN - 13h -
Norfolk State coach angry over being 28 1/2-point underdog to Florida, asks, 'Are we that bad?'
Norfolk State coach Robert Jones has a monster chip on his shoulder entering his team's first-round NCAA Tournament game against No. 1 seed Florida on Friday. “I know Florida’s really, really ...Yahoo Sports - 19h -
Florida gets No. 1 seed in West Region, will open March Madness against Norfolk State
Florida is the No. 1 team in the West Region in its bid to erase last year's early NCAA Tournament exit. The Gators (30-4) will open against No. 16 Norfolk State in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Florida vs. Norfolk State odds, March Madness prediction: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for Norfolk State Spartans vs. Florida Gators on Friday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 23m -
Florida vs Norfolk St matchup officially set. Time, date for March Madness 1st round game
What time does Florida basketball play Norfolk State in March Madness Round of 64? Here’s time, date, TV for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
What channel is Florida basketball vs Norfolk State on today? Time, TV schedule for March Madness game
It's Florida basketball vs Norfolk State in the 2025 March Madness bracket. Here's how to watch the NCAA tournament game, including time, channel, TV.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Norfolk State vs Florida Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats for 2025 March Madness
Norfolk State Spartans vs. Florida Gators Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 17h -
NCAA Tournament expert predictions for Florida basketball vs Norfolk State in first round
Gators Wire's staff gives its predictions for Florida basketball's first round matchup with the Norfolk State Vikings on Friday evening.Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Florida vs Norfolk State schedule, TV channel: How to watch March Madness NCAA Tournament game
What time is the Florida vs Norfolk State NCAA Tournament game? How to watch Gators vs Spartans March Madness game on Friday, March 21 on TV.Yahoo Sports - 4d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Details of Yimi García's $15 million, 2-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
Yahoo Sports - 18m -
NFL had nearly 500 fewer plays from scrimmage in 2024
As the NFL prepares to vote on whether to add extra scrimmage plays via the expansion of regular-season overtime to 15 minutes (as noted last night, the Eagles believe it will be roughly 30 per ...Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Breaking down Marquez Valdes-Scantling's contract with Seahawks
Breaking down the intimate details of WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling's one-year contract with the Seattle SeahawksYahoo Sports - 21m -
Watch: Lakers rookie guard Bronny James scores 17 points in breakout performance vs Bucks
Bronny James finally had a breakout performance at the NBA level on Thursday against the Bucks with 17 points and five assists.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Creighton vs. Auburn Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Stats for 2025 March Madness Round 2
Creighton Bluejays vs. Auburn Tigers Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 21m
More in Sports
-
Details of Yimi García's $15 million, 2-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
Yahoo Sports - 18m -
2025 NASCAR at Miami Fantasy rankings, lineups, start-sit advice, racing picks for Straight Talk Wireless 400
SportsLine's Mike McClure gives his top NASCAR Fantasy picks for this week's 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on SundayCBS Sports - 18m -
North Carolina vs. Ole Miss odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for Ole Miss Rebels vs. UNC Tar Heels on Friday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 18m -
NFL had nearly 500 fewer plays from scrimmage in 2024
As the NFL prepares to vote on whether to add extra scrimmage plays via the expansion of regular-season overtime to 15 minutes (as noted last night, the Eagles believe it will be roughly 30 per ...Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Breaking down Marquez Valdes-Scantling's contract with Seahawks
Breaking down the intimate details of WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling's one-year contract with the Seattle SeahawksYahoo Sports - 21m