By CHARLIE PARENT
McNeese blew out Nicholls Wednesday 92-76 to win the Southland Championship and book their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002.
Former LSU head coach Will Wade, who was let go by the Tigers following NCAA recruiting violations, has led McNeese to a 30-3 record in his first season with the program.
Southland Player of the Year Shahada Wells dropped 27 points. The former TCU guard will be a name to watch during the tournament. Javohn Garcia added 19 while Southland Defensive Player of the Year Christian Shumate had 11.
Wade has now taken three teams to the NCAA Tournament (LSU, VCU) and could on his way to a Power 5 program after the season, if a team is willing to take on the baggage from the LSU sanctions.
However, Wade has committed himself to McNeese for the time being.
“Eventually, you want to get back to the big time,” he told the AP. “But I’m not in some rush to get back like I was before. … We’ve got time. I’m just enjoying the hell out of what we’re doing here.”
McNeese is a projected 13-seed in the NCAA Tournament, per ESPN Joe Lunardi’s recent bracketology. The Cowboys could move up to the No. 12 spot with several mid-major conference finals set to take place over the next few days.
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