Post by The Cats on Nov 14, 2023 15:00:17 GMT -5
Who: McNeese State Cowboys
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 4 pm
Where: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee
TV - ESPN+
Live Stats: WCU Live Stats
Conference: Southland Conference
Enrollment 7,626
Nickname: Cowboys
Head Coach: Will Wade (1st season)
-196-96 overall record in nine years as a head coach at LSU, VCU and Chattanooga.
Last Seasons Record (MSU): 11-23 overall, 6-8 home, 3-14 away, 2-1 neutral, 6-12 conference
The Series: The Cats are 1-0 with McNeese State, having played in Nov. 2022
The Cowboys, are under the direction of new head coach Will Wade, but Wade will miss the first 10 games* of the 2023-24 season due to an NCAA suspension. Instead, assistant coach Brandon Chambers will get the duties
McNeese, picked for a second-place finish in the preseason, returns All-SLC forward Christian Shumate who will be joined by talented transfers, including TCU graduate shooting guard Shahada Wells, UMass and College of the Sequoias standout point guard Javohn Garcia and UTSA sophomore guard DJ Richards Jr.
At this point of the season, the Coyboys are 3-0, having beat VCU in their only away game and two non-Division 1 teams, the Coyboys play another non-D1 team (all three played in Lake Charles, LA), prior to facing the Catamounts in Cullowhee.
McNeese Cowboy basketball has debuted at No. 23 in this week's Field of 68 Mid-Major Top 25 poll, in addition, the Cowboys are the second highest team "receiving votes" in the College Insider mid-major poll, ranking just outside its top 25.
"Saturday afternoon's game is just the second all-time meeting between the Catamounts and Cowboys on the men's basketball hardwood coming in consecutive years. It's also the first trip for McNeese to Cullowhee. Last season in the opening game of a three-game multi-team event (MTE) in Lake Charles, La., the Catamounts downed the hosts 88-69. Tre Jackson led four Catamounts in double figures with a career-best 21 points coming on seven made 3-pointers as WCU never trailed. He was joined by returners Jones Jr. with 17 points and Pelote with 11 points and seven rebounds.
*An independent infractions panel handed a two-year show-cause penalty and a 10-game suspension to former LSU and current McNeese State men's basketball coach Will Wade on Thursday, June 22, 2023, for multiple rules violations, and determined Wade failed to report potential violations, provided cash payments to prevent the disclosure of potential violations and failed to cooperate with the investigation. The case also included violations tied to the Tigers’ football program, leading to both programs being placed on three years of probation following previous self-imposed penalties.
The basketball case originally grew from the federal corruption investigation into college basketball, with LSU firing Wade in March 2022. He was hired by McNeese State earlier this year.