Florida Faces Norfolk State in NCAA Showdown This Friday at 6:50 PM

(1) Florida vs. (16) Norfolk State

 
* What: NCAA West Region / First Round
* When: Friday, 6:50 p.m. (ET)
* Where: Lenovo Center / Raleigh, N.C.
* Records: Florida (30-4) / Norfolk State (24-10)
* TV: TNT (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and Tracy Wolfson)
* Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD / Stations list
(with Sean Kelley, Lee Humphrey, and Steve Egan)
* Ticket info

Projected Starters

The Matchup

SETUP: The fourth-ranked Florida Gators clash with the Norfolk State Spartans in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Florida holds the No. 1 seed in the West Region while Norfolk State is the 16th seed. The victorious team will move on to face either the two-time reigning national champions, Connecticut (23-10), or Oklahoma (20-13), who are both competing as the eighth and ninth seeds, respectively, on Sunday. Florida secured its spot in the tournament by finishing second in the Southeastern Conference during the regular season and winning the conference’s tournament last weekend in Nashville, where they outperformed No. 21 Missouri, No. 5 Alabama, and No. 6 Tennessee. Conversely, Norfolk State clinched the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament on their home court, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, and South Carolina State, 66-65, during the championship match.

SERIES: The Gators have a perfect 1-0 record against the Spartans, with their only previous encounter occurring during the 2012 NCAA Tournament. In that game, Florida dominated Norfolk State with an 84-50 win in the second round held in Omaha, Nebraska. Florida, a No. 7 seed that season, began with a 71-45 victory over the 10th seed Virginia, while the 15th-seeded Spartans pulled off a tremendous upset by defeating the second-seeded Missouri team, marking one of the most notable upsets in NCAA Tournament history. The Gators built a significant lead of 47-19 by halftime, outpacing Norfolk State with 53% shooting from the field while limiting them to only 26%. Florida was propelled by junior guard Kenny Boyton, who tallied 20 points, followed by senior point guard Erving Walker with 15 points and freshman Bradley Beal contributing 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. The Spartans briefly led the game 6-4 before Florida went on an astonishing 25-0 scoring spree that basically sealed their fate.

SPECIAL NOTE: Florida boasts a stellar 10-1 record as a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history, the sole defeat occurring against Connecticut during the 2014 Final Four in Arlington, Texas. This marks the Gators’ third time being a No. 1 seed, following a previous title in 2007.

Statistics Overview

The Gators

The Gators’ impressive performance during their three-game SEC Tournament run has elevated them to the top of KenPom.com’s offensive efficiency metrics. They managed to outscore and outshoot their competitors, especially against Tennessee, a team renowned for its strong defense. Florida remains one of just three teams nationally to rank in the top ten for both offensive and defensive efficiency, along with Duke and Houston. Head coach Todd Golden, who is participating for the third time in the tournament, is seeking his first victory. The Gators excel in offensive rebounding (nationally ranked 8th) and possess impressive effective field-goal and 3-point defense statistics.

Star point guard Walter Clayton Jr. had a remarkable SEC Tournament, now ranking high on the KenPom National Player of the Year leaderboard. His three-game average was 20.6 points, with nearly 48% shooting accuracy. He is part of a strong trio of senior perimeter players, along with Will Richard and Alijah Martin, who collectively averaged impressive stats during the tournament. Other key players include third-team All-SEC forward Alex Condon and backup sophomore forward Thomas Haugh, both contributing significantly to the team’s recent success.

The Spartans

Coached by Robert Jones, now in his 12th season, the Spartans have a record of 212-148, including a 1-2 NCAA Tournament record. Norfolk State has faced three strong opponents this season, with mixed results. The team demonstrated resilience by finishing 11-3 in the MEAC and securing the conference tournament title to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans are led by MEAC Player of the Year Brian Moore Jr., renowned for his scoring ability and tough playing style. Noted for his skills both inside and outside, he consistently delivers double-digit scoring.

Also noteworthy for Norfolk State are key players such as guard Christian Ings, known for his remarkable shooting percentages, and Jaylani Darden, a strong defensive presence on the team. Alongside them are forwards Jalen Myers and Kuluel Mading, who provide valuable contributions in the paint both offensively and defensively for the Spartans. Despite their lower seeds, the Spartans have shown they can compete at a high level.

Key Statistics

* 3 — NCAA champions in the past decade who triumphed in their respective conference tournaments prior were Villanova, Kansas, and UConn.

* 37.6 — Average margin by which Norfolk State has lost in their three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a significant defeat against the Gators in ’12, followed by losses to Gonzaga and Baylor.

* 212th— Norfolk State’s ranking in the KenPom ratings when they upset second-seeded Missouri, marking them as the lowest-rated team to achieve an NCAA Tournament win since KenPom began its metrics in 2001-02.

* 1,206 — Career points for Richard, placing him among Florida’s top all-time scorers, overtaking former standout Taurean Green.