Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball

Last updated
Norfolk State Spartans
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team
Norfolk State Spartans wordmark.png
University Norfolk State University
Head coach Robert Jones (12th season)
Conference MEAC
Location Norfolk, Virginia
Arena Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall
(capacity: 7,000)
Nickname Spartans
ColorsGreen and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
Kit body thinsidesonwhite.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts blanksides2.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
Kit body thingoldsides.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts goldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Away


NCAA tournament Final Four
1995*
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1974*, 1986*, 1987*, 1994*, 1995*
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1968*, 1971*, 1974*, 1984*, 1986*, 1987*, 1994*, 1995*
NCAA tournament round of 32
2012
NCAA tournament appearances
1965*, 1968*, 1969*, 1971*, 1974*, 1984*, 1985*, 1986*, 1987*, 1988*, 1989*, 1990*, 1992*, 1994*, 1995*, 2012, 2021, 2022
*at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
MEAC: 2012, 2021, 2022
CIAA: 1965, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1996
Conference regular season champions
2013, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024
Conference division season champions
2021

The Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team represents Norfolk State University, located in Norfolk, Virginia, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Spartans are currently coached by Robert Jones and play their home games at the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall (7,000). The Spartans men's basketball team is best known for defeating the #2 seeded Missouri in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 86–84, the first tournament appearance for Norfolk State. It was only the fifth time that a 15th seed has defeated a 2nd seed. [2] [3] Norfolk State has qualified for the NCAA tournament at the Division I level three times, in 2012, 2021, and 2022.

Contents

Post-season

NCAA Division I tournament results

The Spartans have appeared in three NCAA Division I tournaments. Their combined record is 2–3.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
2012 #15First round
Second Round
#2 Missouri
#7 Florida
W 8684
L 5084
2021 #16First Four
First round
#16 Appalachian State
#1 Gonzaga
W 54–53
L 55–98
2022 #16First round#1 BaylorL 49–85

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Spartans have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament 15 times. Their combined record is 18–19.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1965 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Bellarmine
Bethune-Cookman
L 74–91
W 91–74
1968 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Denison
Ashland
W 108–86
L 51–61
1969 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd Place
Mount St. Mary's
Old Dominion
L 80–95
L 102–113
1971 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Roanoke
Old Dominion
W 97–77
L 97–102
1974 First round
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Randolph–Macon
Roanoke
Old Dominion
Assumption
W 74–72
W 84–75
W 89–76
L 79–89
1984 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Winston-Salem State
Virginia Union
W 70–61
L 56–58
1985 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Cal State Hayward
Montana State–Billings
L 61–64
W 90–78
1986 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Virginia Union
Mount St. Mary's
Sacred Heart
W 70–60
W 78–75
L 74–84
1987 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
District of Columbia
Mount St. Mary's
Kentucky Westleyan
W 68–64
W 70–66
L 74–80
1988 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Tampa
North Alabama
L 68–71
L 63–76
1989 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
North Carolina Central
Alabama A&M
L 64–67
L 80–93
1990 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Florida Tech
Virginia Union
L 63–73
W 102–93
1992 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Jonson C. Smith
Albany State
L 76–82
L 70–73
1994 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Longwood
Virginia Union
Washburn
W 61–59
W 71–69
L 58–69
1995 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
Johnson C. Smith
Virginia Union
Alabama A&M
Southern Indiana
W 89–61
W 84–66
W 85–67
L 81–89

NIT results

The Spartans have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) twice. Their record is 1–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2013 First roundVirginiaL 56–67
2019 First round
Second Round
Alabama
Colorado
W 80–79 OT
L 60–76

CIT results

The Spartans have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) five times. Their combined record is 2–4. They were the CIT champions in 2024.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2014 First roundEastern MichiganL 54–58
2015 First roundEastern KentuckyL 75–81
2016 First roundColumbiaL 54–86
2017 First roundLibertyL 64–73
2024 Semifinals
Championship
Alabama A&M
Purdue Fort Wayne
W 81–66
W 75–67

Retired numbers

Three Spartan players have had their numbers retired by Norfolk State University. Kyle O’Quinn is the latest, with his number 10 retired by the school on February 16, 2019. [4]

Norfolk State Spartans retired numbers
No.PlayerYears played
10 Kyle O’Quinn 2008–2012
12 Bob Dandridge 1965–1969
34 David Pope 1980–1984

Spartans in the NBA

Spartans in international leagues

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament</span> Annual college basketball tournament for women

The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, sometimes referred to as Women's March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States, currently featuring 68 women's college basketball teams from the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to determine the national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfolk State University</span> Public historically black university in Norfolk, Virginia, US

Norfolk State University (NSU) is a public historically black university in Norfolk, Virginia. It is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Virginia High-Tech Partnership.

Anthony Lemont Evans is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Florida International. Prior to FIU, he served as the head coach at Norfolk State University. Evans currently serves as Director of Player Development at UMass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Dominion Monarchs men's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Old Dominion Monarchs men's basketball team represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States in NCAA Division I men's competition. The school's team currently competes in the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball</span> American college basketball team

The Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team represents the Purple Aces of the University of Evansville, located in Evansville, Indiana, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Ford Center. Evansville's athletics teams were originally known as the Pioneers in the early part of the 1900s. In the 1920s, the name Aces arose after a local sports writer wrote in a game story of the men's basketball team, "They played like Aces." The team has been known as the Aces and/or Purple Aces ever since. Evansville has won five Division II national championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UNC Greensboro Spartans men's basketball</span> College basketball team

The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) Spartans men's basketball team represents the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in NCAA Division I. The school's team currently competes in the Southern Conference.

The Missouri State Bears basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. The Bears compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. They are currently coached by Cuonzo Martin. Missouri State plays its home games at the 11,000-seat Great Southern Bank Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furman Paladins men's basketball</span> Mens basketball team that represents Furman University

The Furman Paladins men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southern Conference. They are currently led by head coach Bob Richey and play their home games at the Timmons Arena. In 2018, the Paladins entered the College Basketball AP Poll for the first time in program history, coming in at number 23 on December 10. Furman made an appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament in 2023 after having last appeared in 1980, the 43-year absence being the 15th longest drought in NCAA Division I Tournament history. During that tournament Furman would upset 4 seeded Virginia in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Illinois Panthers men's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Eastern Illinois Panthers men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The first basketball team started in 1908–09 season. The school's team currently competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers competed in the NCAA Division I tournament in 1992 and 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampton Pirates basketball</span> College basketball team

The Hampton Pirates basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, United States. The Pirates compete in the Coastal Athletic Association. The school's team formerly competed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and the Big South Conference. Notably, the 2000-01 Hampton team was one of ten 15 seeds ever to upset a 2 seed in the Round of 64 of an NCAA tournament, defeating Iowa State in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercer Bears men's basketball</span> Basketball team representing Mercer University

The Mercer Bears men's basketball team represents Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, United States. The school's team competes in the Southern Conference. They are led by head coach Ryan Ridder and play their home games at Hawkins Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal Carolina Chanticleers men's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Sun Belt Conference. Tony Dunkin, a former Chanticleer, is the only men's basketball player in NCAA Division I history to be named the conference player of the year all four seasons he played. Coastal Carolina has appeared four times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grambling State Tigers men's basketball</span> Collegiate basketball team

The Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represents Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. The school's team currently competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They currently play their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. They made their first ever appearance to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal State Fullerton Titans men's basketball</span> Basketball team, California State University

The Cal State Fullerton Titans men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, California, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference.

The 1986 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament involved 32 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 1985–86 NCAA Division II men's basketball season. It was won by Sacred Heart University and Sacred Heart's Roger Younger was the Most Outstanding Player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USC Upstate Spartans men's basketball</span> College basketball team

The USC Upstate Spartans men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The school's team formerly competed in the ASUN Conference, but moved to the Big South Conference in 2018–19. Play their home games at the G. B. Hodge Center. During their time as a member of the NAIA, they were national champions in 1982. Since their move to Division I in 2007, they have yet to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011–12 Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2011–12 Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team represented Norfolk State University during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Spartans, led by fifth year head coach Anthony Evans, played their home games at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall and are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They finished the season 26–10, 13–3 in MEAC play to finish in second place. They were the champions of the MEAC Basketball tournament to earn the conference's automatic bid in the 2012 NCAA tournament, the school's first ever appearance in the tournament. As a 15 seed, the Spartans shocked the 2 seed Missouri in the second round, 86–84. This was only the fifth time in NCAA Tournament history that a 15 seed defeated a 2 seed, with the last coming in 2001. Norfolk State would fall to Florida in the second round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle O'Quinn</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Kyle Brandon O'Quinn is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association. He played for the Norfolk State Spartans, and led them to a victory over the #2 seed Missouri Tigers in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft with the 49th overall pick, by the Orlando Magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pendarvis Williams</span>

Pendarvis Williams is an American basketball player for the Erdenet Miners of the Mongolian National League. He played college basketball for Norfolk State University, where in the 2012–13 season he was named an honorable mention All-American.MBA ERDENET MINERS

The 2024 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) was a postseason single-elimination tournament of NCAA Division I basketball teams. This was the first CIT contested since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 CITs were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the CIT was replaced by The Basketball Classic. Neither The Basketball Classic nor the CIT were contested in 2023. However, CollegeInsider.com announced in early March 2024, that the CIT was to be revived in a 16-team pod-based format for the 2023–24 postseason. Ultimately, only nine teams agreed to play in the 2024 edition.

References

  1. "Athletics Quick Facts" (PDF). NSUSpartans.com. May 19, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. ESPN
  3. Skretta, Dave (March 16, 2012). "Norfolk State upsets Missouri 86-84 in NCAA tourney". HamptonRoads.com. The Virginian-Pilot (Associated Press). Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  4. Brown, Mitch (January 28, 2019). "Norfolk State set to retire Kyle O'Quinn's basketball jersey in February". wtvr.com. Retrieved February 8, 2019.