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Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball

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Norfolk State Spartans
2024–25 Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team
UniversityNorfolk State University
Head coachRobert Jones (12th season)
ConferenceMEAC
LocationNorfolk, Virginia
ArenaJoseph G. Echols Memorial Hall
(capacity: 7,000)
NicknameSpartans
ColorsGreen and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
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.

Post-season

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NCAA Division I tournament results

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

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
2012 #15 First round
Second Round
#2 Missouri
#7 Florida
W 86–84
L 50–84
2021 #16 First Four
First round
#16 Appalachian State
#1 Gonzaga
W 54–53
L 55–98
2022 #16 First round #1 Baylor L 49–85

NCAA Division II tournament results

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

Year Round Opponent Result
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

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

Year Round Opponent Result
2013 First round Virginia L 56–67
2019 First round
Second Round
Alabama
Colorado
W 80–79 OT
L 60–76

CIT results

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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.

Year Round Opponent Result
2014 First round Eastern Michigan L 54–58
2015 First round Eastern Kentucky L 75–81
2016 First round Columbia L 54–86
2017 First round Liberty L 64–73
2024 Semifinals
Championship
Alabama A&M
Purdue Fort Wayne
W 81–66
W 75–67

Retired numbers

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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. Player Years played
10 Kyle O’Quinn 2008–2012
12 Bob Dandridge 1965–1969
34 David Pope 1980–1984

Spartans in the NBA

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Spartans in international leagues

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References

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  1. ^ "Athletics Quick Facts" (PDF). NSUSpartans.com. May 19, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. ^ [1] 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.
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