The first year of the Will Wade era in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was exciting, as the McNeese Cowboys qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 while winning 30 games in the process.
Among those victories were wins over VCU, UAB and Michigan, with the Blazers making the Big Dance like the Cowboys.
But now, that season is in their rearview mirror as the team looks to win an NCAA Tournament game when March arrives. With a plethora of high-quality transfers in Quadir Copeland (Syracuse), Sincere Parker (St. Louis) and Joe Charles (Louisiana) paired with key returners Jahvon Garcia and Christian Schumate, there is an argument that this team will finish better than last year.
While it is likely they’ll once again hoist the Southland championship trophy. One of the harsh realities of being a mid-major is that most conferences are one-bid leagues only.
Below are three wins they must have if they find themselves in a situation where they don’t win their conference tournament. Picking up quality non-conference wins also will help them with their seeding if they qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
November 11 @ Alabama
A trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to play a favorite to win a national championship has quality win written all over it. And while many of the high-major teams were afraid to host the Cowboys, Head coach Nate Oats accepted the challenge. With the return of Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., paired with new transfers that add to the team’s depth, this will be a hefty task for McNeese early.
December 3 vs Santa Clara
At the beginning of December, McNeese will look to hold serve against a Santa Clara Broncos team with big aspirations for their season. Returning Carlos Stewart from LSU and other key contributors, Santa Clara looks like one of the better mid-major programs out there that, like McNeese, and is looking for resume-boosting wins. The plus for the Cowboys is that this one is on their home floor.
December 14 @ Mississippi State (Neutral site)
A date with Chris Jans’ team serves as the last test for the Cowboys before they enter conference play. An NCAA Tournament team from last year, there are significant questions about how the Bulldogs will fare in a post-Tolu Smith and D.J. Jeffries world. Another advantage for McNeese is this one takes place at a neutral site in Tupelo, Mississippi, instead of Starkville.
