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Norfolk State coach ‘angry’ about the 28.5-point spread vs. Florida

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•03/21/25•

ZachAbolverdi

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Norfolk State Spartans head coach Robert Jones during practice at Lenovo Center. (Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

RALEIGH, N.C. — The No. 1 seed Florida Gators are 28.5-point favorites in their first-round matchup against 16-seed Norfolk State on Friday. Spartans coach Robert Jones is not happy about it.

In fact, he’s angry.

Jones sounded off Thursday about Norfolk State (24-10/11-3 MEAC) being listed as nearly 30-point underdogs against the Gators (30-4/14-4 SEC).

“I think that for myself, I coach better when I’m angry, and I’m angry a little bit about the way the point spread is and things like that,” Jones said on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. “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? I’m a little angry, and like I said, I’m a little bit more focused and play better when I’m angry. I think the players play better when they’re angry.

“… We’re trying to show that we’re truly one of the best teams in the country. So, I think there’s 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 the guys are excited about the challenge. No one in that locker room is scared. No one in that locker room is afraid. We’re excited about the challenge of playing the University of Florida.”

RELATED: Get to know Norfolk State, the Florida Gators’ 1st-round opponent

The Gators will take on the Spartans on Friday at 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. Norfolk State was the MEAC regular season and tournament champions.

“Florida is not Indiana, Purdue, Fort Wayne, they’re not them, they’re a lot better than them,” Jones said. “But at the same time, we played a pretty tough schedule. We played five NCAA Tournament teams, and that was done on purpose, to get to a moment like this.

“We have to withstand the first blow because I know Florida’s playing for a National Championship, but if they tell our guys we’re one of the 68 teams here, so we’re playing for the National Championship too. So we have to be able to withstand their first blow.”

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