McNeese State Secures Victory in NCAA Tournament Debut Following Coach Will Wade's Alleged Job Offer Acceptance
In a wild turn of events this weekend, McNeese State's star coach Will Wade sprinted towards the cheering crowd, embracing assistant Christian Shumate, as they celebrated the Cowboys' shocking 69-67 upset over fifth-seeded Clemson in the NCAA tournament. The event happened amidst the buzz that Wade would be leaving the team to coach North Carolina State (NC State).
The locker room erupted with cheers and laughter, amplified by the booming sound of Amir Khan's Lud Foe's "In and Out" on the boom box. Khan, who quickly became famous on social media for rapping alongside the players, recently made history as the first manager to sign Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals with Insomnia Cookies, TickPick, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Despite the media reports of Wade's agreement with NC State, the charismatic coach addressed his future with the team following Wednesday's press conference, acknowledging that his agent and NC State had discussions, but providing no further details. McNeese's guard DJ Richards confirmed the coach had discussed the situation with the team too.
"He told us everything straight up. We were like, 'that's next year.'" shared Richards. "We all know that's next year." However, the players focused on making March Madness history for the moment, with Richards asserting, "Right now, we can do something special."
Wade's move to McNeese came as a surprise to many after he was fired from LSU in March 2022 due to alleged recruiting violations. The NIL era, which allows players to legally get paid, proved to be a fresh start for Wade, who built a dynamic team of transfers and led the Cowboys to the NCAA tournament last season. Despite losing to Gonzaga in the first round, Wade vowed to enhance the team's performance in the future.
True to his word, the Cowboys dominated the 2023 season, winning the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles for the second consecutive year. The Cowboys boasted an impressive 12 consecutive game winning streak, tied with Duke, and had an impressive average of outscoring opponents by 14.3 points per game.
Thursday's game against Clemson showcased McNeese's dominance. Trailing by 22 points with 8 minutes remaining, Clemson managed to shrink the lead to 12 points with just 1 minute left. However, the Cowboys responded with a dunk and made three of four free throws to seal the victory.
Brandon Murray, a transfer from LSU, led the team with 21 points. Quadir Copeland and Christian Shumate added 16 points and 7 rebounds, and 13 points and 11 rebounds respectively. The Cowboys will have a tough challenge against NC State. However, McNeese's standout performance in the tournament suggests they're ready to push the boundaries even further.
Heath Schroyer, McNeese's athletics director, couldn't help but reflect on the doubters who thought bringing Wade onboard was a risky move. Despite it all, the team's resilience and success has proven the critics wrong. Schroyer expressed his overwhelming pride and gratitude for the entire community that made the success possible.
In the end, Wade's new opportunity with NC State signifies a new chapter in his career, likely with a more substantial financial and reputational boost. Nevertheless, his time at McNeese State demonstrated his ability to rebuild his coaching reputation and prodigy.
[Side Note: As the NIL era unfolds, coaches like Wade will play a critical role in harnessing the potential of student-athletes, both on and off the court. The landscape of college basketball is likely to evolve rapidly as athletes gain more autonomy and economic opportunities.]
[Additional Insight: Will Wade's departure from McNeese State means the university will likely have to pay a significant buyout fee due to his recent contract extension and early departure. The specifics of the buyout clause were not specified in the given context.]
- The booming sound of Amir Khan's "In and Out" filled the McNeese State locker room, a testament to the rapper's recent NIL deals with Insomnia Cookies, TickPick, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
- Despite the uncertainty surrounding Will Wade's future with the team, McNeese's guard DJ Richards shared that Wade had informed them he would remain the coach beyond the ongoing season.
- In the wake of the upset victory over Clemson, McNeese State found themselves ready to face a tough challenge against NC State, demonstrating their readiness to push the boundaries even further in the NCAA tournament.
