The McNeese men’s basketball team is heading to the 2025 NCAA Tournament after winning the Southland Conference. In the Southland tournament, it defeated Northwestern State 83-64 and Lamar 63-54 in the championship game to clinch the auto-bid.
The Cowboys are 27-6 overall this season and on an 11-game winning streak.
McNeese NCAA Tournament Appearances
In 2025, McNeese basketball will make its 4th appearance in the Division 1 NCAA Tournament and its second in a row.
The Cowboys also reached the tourney in 1989, 2002, and 2024.
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McNeese Basketball NCAA Tournament Wins
McNeese has won one game in the Division 1 NCAA Tournament, beating Clemson 69-67 in 2025.
Its overall record in the Big Dance is 1-4, losing to Illinois in 1989, Mississippi State in 2002, Gonzaga in 2024, and Purdue in 2025.
McNeese Basketball Coach Will Wade Salary
Will Wade has an annual base salary of $700,000 as McNeese’s head basketball coach.
Wade is in his second season leading the Cowboys. They have made back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, finishing 30-4 last season, and are currently 27-6 this year. Wade was previously the head coach at LSU from 2017 to 2022. He was fired in March 2022 after the NCAA formally served the Notice of Allegations based on the investigations into reports of recruiting violations.
Before LSU, Wade had successful head coaching stints at Chattanooga from 2013 to 2015 and at VCU from 2015 to 2017, where he had a combined three 20-win seasons. He led VCU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in his two seasons before taking the LSU job.
McNeese Will Wade Buyout
Will Wade’s McNeese contract includes a buyout of $1 million should he leave McNeese prior to Aug. 31, 2025.
