HomeSportsNorfolk State Coach Fumes Over Massive Underdog Status Against Florida in March Madness
Norfolk State Coach Fumes Over Massive Underdog Status Against Florida in March Madness

Norfolk State Coach Fumes Over Massive Underdog Status Against Florida in March Madness

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

March 21, 2025

4 min read

Brief

No. 16 Norfolk State faces No. 1 Florida as massive underdogs in March Madness. Coach Robert Jones fuels his team's underdog spirit, hoping for a historic NCAA Tournament upset.

March Madness is in full swing, and the battle lines are drawn between No. 1 Florida and No. 16 Norfolk State. But if you ask the oddsmakers, this isn't much of a battle at all. The Gators are stepping onto the court as nearly 30-point favorites, leaving Norfolk State’s head coach Robert Jones scratching his head—and maybe clenching his fists a little.

"I know Florida's really, really good, and they run a great program, got great players. But are we that bad that the point spread is like that?" Jones questioned, his disbelief palpable. "I'm a little angry, and, like I said, I'm a little bit more focused and play better when I'm angry." It seems like Coach Jones is channeling his inner underdog spirit, and he’s banking on his players doing the same. "I think the players play better when they're angry," he added, clearly trying to light a fire under his team.

Historically, the odds are stacked sky-high against Norfolk State. Only two No. 16 seeds have ever toppled a No. 1 in tournament history—UMBC over Virginia in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson over Purdue in 2023. The latter shocked the world as a 23.5-point underdog, a record Norfolk State would shatter if they pull off the impossible. The rest of the stats don't make things any rosier: No. 16 seeds have lost 154 times in tournament history outside of these two miraculous wins.

Still, Norfolk State has a proud basketball tradition to lean on. The Spartans, champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, have racked up 20 wins in each of the past four seasons and are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance in five years. They’ve even tasted tournament glory before, shocking third-seeded Missouri in 2012 before falling to—guess who?—Florida in a brutal 84-50 defeat in the next round. Talk about déjà vu.

If the Spartans do pull this off, it’ll go down as the biggest upset in March Madness history. And it’s clear Coach Jones is ready to fight tooth and nail for that possibility. Whether that's enough to overcome the Gators' powerhouse squad? Well, that's the magic (and madness) of March.

Topics

March MadnessNorfolk StateFlorida GatorsNCAA TournamentRobert Jonesbasketball upsetunderdogNo. 16 seedcollege basketballtournament oddsSportsBasketball

Editor's Comments

I can almost hear Coach Jones yelling, 'Are you not entertained?' in a Gladiator-style speech. I mean, the guy has a point—30 points is a heck of a spread. But hey, if anger really fuels greatness, maybe Norfolk State is about to give Florida a run for their money. Never underestimate an underdog with a chip on their shoulder!

Like this article? Share it with your friends!

If you find this article interesting, feel free to share it with your friends!

Thank you for your support! Sharing is the greatest encouragement for us.

Related Stories