Norfolk State coach upset about point spread in matchup with No. 1 seed Florida basketball

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In this week’s Swampcast, the Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Noah Ram talk UF basketball in the NCAA Tournament with Rodd Baxley of the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer.

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).

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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.

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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…

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Publish date : 2025-03-20 20:05:00

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