Norfolk State brings New York City mindset as massive March Madness underdog
RALEIGH, N.C. — There will be some New York City flavor on the floor Friday for the NCAA Tournament opening round at the Lenovo Center.
Norfolk State, the No. 16 seed taking on No. 1 seed Florida at 6:50 p.m. Friday, is led by its coach of 11 years, Robert Jones, a native of Jamaica, Queens.
Jones’ best player is Brian Moore, a Harlem native who leads the team with 18.4 points per game.
“Growing up in New York City, you can’t be soft,’’ Jones told The Post Thursday. “You have to have a level of toughness. My team understands the intensity that you have to play with, the intensity I’m going to bring to them and hopefully they bring back to me.’’
Jones was an assistant coach at Norfolk State in 2012, when it stunned No. 3 seeded Missouri, a 21 ½-point favorite, in the first round of the NCAAs.
He’s reminded his team, a 28 ½-point underdog to Florida, of that game, and even brought in that team’s star player, Kyle O’Quinn, to speak to the players last week.
“I just talked to them about the belief that those guys had,’’ Jones said. “There was a belief from the Selection Sunday that we were gonna win. Kyle talked to the guys the other day about having that belief even though the odds are insurmountable against you. I think the guys probably got a little bit more belief when they heard his speech.’’
Jones joked, “I coach better when I’m angry, and I’m angry a little bit about the way the point spread is. 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 I’m a little bit more focused and play better when I’m angry. I’m a New York City guy, so I guess I’m angry by nature, coming from up there. I coach with a chip on my shoulder.
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“I think the players play better when they’re angry. The guys are excited about the challenge. No one in that locker room is scared. No one in that locker room is afraid.’’
Moore, said he transferred to Norfolk State from Murray State in part because of Jones, saying, “Being from New York City and me being from Harlem, I knew that we would connect, and we do.’’
“He’s a winner,’’ Moore said. “Being from New York City, he’s got a vibrant style about him. He’s got a swagger about him, a confidence about him. I think it resonates throughout the team.
“The pressure isn’t on us,’’ Moore went on. “The pressure is on Florida to come out and beat us. So, we should go out there and play free.’’
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