OMAHA, Neb. — They have no regrets. They offer no apology. They are a day removed from handing Missouri its most shocking NCAA tournament loss in program history.
Now, the Norfolk State Spartans savor a high only Cinderella can feel.
But the fearless fifteen seed has a new vision. They know where many – including President Obama — picked the second-seeded Tigers to be. They want to steal those expectations to stroll Bourbon Street and make them their own.
Why stop with a single victory at the CenturyLink Center? Why not turn one upset into two Sunday by beating seventh-seeded Florida in the round of 32? Why not advance to the West Region semifinals and set their sights on something that seemed laughable before Friday night?
A Final Four berth? For a team that never appeared in the NCAA tournament before staring down mighty Missouri?
Does Norfolk State believe?
"Everybody had (Missouri) in their Final Four so it was great to get a win like that," Norfolk State sophomore guard Pendarvis Williams said. "Hopefully, we can move onto the Final Four."
"I wouldn't mind taking their place in people's brackets and going to the Final Four," Norfolk State senior center Kyle O'Quinn said. "To mess up that bracket in such a way that no one expected, it feels good."
Of course it does. Norfolk State's Final Four dream feels distant, but O'Quinn was charming a day after he ripped the Tigers for a game-high 26 points and 14 rebounds in helping the Spartans take the first step. He spoke about his surge in awareness — he gained 2,100 Twitter followers — and how the upset won't help his team Sunday. He knows there is more work to do.
Yet Florida will try to succeed where Missouri failed by improving its stroke from the outside. The Gators entered a second-round matchup against 10th-seeded Virginia on Friday leading the nation with an average of 9.9 three-point attempts made per game.
But Florida went frigid from behind the arc against the Cavaliers. The Gators made 4 of 23 3-point attempts and no player wearing orange and blue swished more than one.
Norfolk State would be wise to assume Florida will have a better touch Sunday. Still, the Spartans should be confident before facing the Gators' talented guard trio of junior Kenny Boynton (16 points per game), freshman Bradley Beal (14.6) and senior Erving Walker (12). After all, Norfolk State played inspired against Missouri's skilled backcourt and limited senior guard Kim English to a season-low two points.
"It's a one-game night and on that one day, that one game, the best team is going to win," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "Missouri has clearly had an unbelievable year. They lost four games the whole year coming into this. They were up for a No. 1 seed. And on this night . . . they were not the better team. Norfolk State was."
Norfolk State was the better team, and players carried themselves with confidence in Saturday's afterglow. It's obvious they love this stage: The charter flight to the Midwest instead of their usual cramped bus commutes, the water slide at their hotel, the police escorts to the arena. They called this the best road trip they have ever had.
They shattered brackets. They sent Missouri packing far sooner than anyone outside their locker room thought possible. And now the Spartans want to stay awhile.
"Hopefully, we will look back and see ‘One Shining Moment' and know that we were a part of this and be happy about it," Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans said.
The Spartans have already created their March moment to remember. Everything that comes next will continue the dream.
They believe, and they won't apologize for it.
