Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Syracuse and Louisville among teams with key MTEs on their schedules

By Jason Burgess

Mar 2, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Adrian Autry talks with guard Judah Mintz (3) during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum! Center. Syracuse defeated Louisville 82-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
Mar 2, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Adrian Autry talks with guard Judah Mintz (3) during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum! Center. Syracuse defeated Louisville 82-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images / Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next

McNeese State Cowboys

McNeese State went 30-4 with Southland regular season and tournament titles in Will Wade's first season. That resulted in a robust No.12 seed in the NCAA tournament and a date with Gonzaga. Even though the Cowboys weren't able to pull off the upset, they proved to be a handful for last season, with that loss to Gonzaga proving to be their only loss of the year by more than double digits. What Wade does for an encore will be dependent on his portal success after losing his top scorer Shahada Wells.

Despite losing Wells, Wade returns three double-digit scorers from the team that scored 80 points last year. Forward Christian Shumate who averaged 12 points and nine rebounds is joined by shooting guards Javohn Garcia and DJ Richards, Jr. who both shot well over 40% from deep for the Cowboys. Three of the eight transfers Wade has brought in averaged more than 10 points last season. Sincere Parker was the leading scorer for St. Louis last season and much like Shumate, Joe Charles nearly averaged a double-double for Louisiana last season. One other name to watch is junior Quadir Copeland who put up 9.6 points, 4.6 boards and 2.8 assists for Syracuse.

The Cowboys will participate in the Paradise Jam, with an opening-round game against Illinois State and a possible matchup with UAB looming. The other side of the bracket is headlined by Kansas State, and if McNeese can make the title game against the Wildcats, a signature win for a team coming off a 30-win season would be big for the resume and make McNeese State a perennial March sleeper.

Home/NCAA Basketball News