NCAA Basketball: Top 25 NCAA Tournament cinderellas since 2000
By Adam Childs
23) 2012 Norfolk State Spartans, No. 15-seed
Record: 26-10, Round of 32
Beat: (2) Missouri Tigers
Tiny Norfolk State, who has an enrollment hovering right at 5,000 students, went into the 2012 NCAA Tournament as a big underdog to the No. 3 ranked Missouri Tigers. The Tigers were 30-5 and a 21.5 point favorite to beat the Norfolk State Spartans and advance to the Round of 32.
In beating Missouri, Norfolk State became the first No. 15-seed to win a tournament game since 2001. The Spartans also became just the fifth team ever to win as a No. 15-seed.
It was a memorable night for the Spartans, who were making their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Norfolk State came into the game on a seven-game winning streak, which included winning three games to clinch the MEAC Tournament title and the automatic bid.
They finished 13-3 in the conference regular season, but behind the Savannah State Tigers. They were one of the favorites to win the MEAC Tournament, but needed to shut down a late rally by the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats just to win it.
Norfolk State took that opportunity and ran with it in upsetting the Tigers. They would shoot 52 percent on 3-pointers and had three different guys score 20 or more points. They were led by Kyle O’Quinn, (who now plays for the Indiana Pacers) who had 26 points to lead all scorers.
Just like the 2016 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Norfolk State’s dream would end two nights later. But on this night, they made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament as memorable as any mid-major had ever had. Any team that can come in on their first trip and topple a top-five team is a big-time cinderella team.