Every single year, there is a mid-major team in the tournament that makes headlines by upsetting a highly-seeded team. This year, I am going to plant my flag in a team before the tournament even tips off. They play fast, shoot threes, and have an excellent coach. The team? The McNeese State Cowboys.
From: Dennis Thibodeaux
What Makes a Cinderella Team?
When you look at Cinderella teams of previous years, what do they mostly have in common? Three point shooting and/or a star player to go to when the offense breaks down. Oral Roberts had Max Abams and Kevin Obanor. St. Peters had the shooting. Loyola had both. FAU had both. FDU had an elite shooting night to beat Purdue last year. Even when you turn the rolodex a bit further, Davidson had Steph Curry. Butler had Gordon Hayward.
Most of these teams also had coaches capable of outcoaching their matchups night in and night out. Out of the list I previously mentioned, five teams had coaches who outclassed their matchup on the sideline. While Davidson's Bob McKillop is a mid-major legend, Steph Curry provided enough firepower to transcend the gameplan. Shaheen Holloway ran beautiful sets to scheme guys like Doug Edert open. Porter Moser was excellent on the sideline, and also had Sister Jean. Dusty May is one of the best coaches in the sport at the moment. Tobin Anderson ran circles around Matt Painter last year. And do I even have to convince you on Brad Stevens? The guy was one of the best X's and O's coaches in basketball history. Now that you know what makes up a Cinderella run, let's shift focus to the Cowboys.
Star Power
One of the best things about March are the players from smaller schools who make a name for themselves in the national media. Guys that grinded their whole career finally get a shot to steal the limelight from the blue bloods for a couple weeks. McNeese State is home to one of those guys, three-time transfer Shahada Wells.
Wells started his basketball career at Tyler Junior College, a small school in Texas. He then transferred up to the D1 level to UT Arlington. As soon as he stepped on campus, he scored in waves. In his lone year at UT Arlington, Wells averaged 17 ppg on elite efficiency. It was clear that Shahada Wells could score. He then entered the portal again, and landed at TCU.
His time at TCU was short, only playing two years in Fort Worth. With little playing time and minimal scoring opportunities, he recognized it was time for a change and finally left Texas, where he ended up at McNeese State. The Senior guard has been a revelation for the Cowboy offense, as he is averaging 17 points yet again, and can shoot the lights out of the ball. Wells is a pest defensively, and is averaging the second most steals per game in the COUNTRY, at 2.9 a game. Shahada Wells is the guy for McNeese State, and is ready to put on a performance in March.
Floor Spacing
McNeese State does not rely on Wells alone to score on the offensive side. According to KenPom, the Cowboys are the fifth best shooting team in the country, shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc. When you look at their conference statistics, they are the cream of the crop in the Southland Conference. 1st in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, 1st in three point shooting, first in 2 point shooting, and first in Effective Field Goal Percentage. McNeese State is an elite offense capable of avalanching teams. Counting Shahada Wells who is at 39.5%, they have a whopping six players shooting north of 40% from three this year. This team can shoot the heck out of the ball, and the game can get out of hand quickly if you do not make an effort to stop them
From: Leighton Chamblee
Coaching
When he was at LSU, Will Wade was one of the hottest coaching names the sport. In just five years, Wade led the Tigers to 3 NCAA Tournaments, a Sweet 16, and a 105-51 record. Wade was one of the most highly regarded coaches in the country, a consistent winner everywhere he went. His tenure at LSU all came crashing down due to a wiretap on his phone, where he told an assistant to make a "strong-ass offer" to a recruit. The program got hit with five Level 1 violations, which is practically unheard of. He was fired in March of 2022, and hit the coaching carousel shortly after. Wade decided to take a step down to the mid-major level, where McNeese State gave him a five year deal to coach the Cowboys.
It is clear his recruiting violations were not the reason for Will Wade's success. This guy is one of the best coaches in the country, and has McNeese State as the class of the Southland, at 23-3 overall and 12-1 in the conference. He lets his team run with their elite athleticism and shooting efficiency. McNeese has embraced Wade as one of their own, and has become a fan-favorite in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Wade is capable of coaching circles around just about any coach in the country at this point.
When Will the Clock Strike Midnight?
Look, McNeese State is one of the best mid-major teams in the country. All three of their losses have come on the road. They have not been blown out once this season. I hope this article convinces you, but there's still a chance they lose their conference tournament and do not even make the dance. Looking at the bracketology, they are around a 12-seed in nearly every bracket. There are some sneaky teams on the five line, but if they can get past the first round, the sky is the limit for McNeese State. I am all in on the Cowboys, but understand that this team can lose in the first round. All of the worrying aside, the McNeese State Cowboys are my Cinderella team for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Tune into their games in March, I promise they won't disappoint.
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