23 plus one looks pretty good right now. If you’ve been following the Will Wade saga you remember during his introductory appearance at the Legacy Center the newly branded Cowboys’ coach promised to win 23 games plus one this season. Why 23, you wonder? Well, it would match the record number of single season losses put up last season, and I guess the one added win would be Wade’s idea of Louisiana lagniappe.
If things go as expected with those three gimme-games on the early schedule (Biblical Studies, Champion Christian and LeTourneau) the McNeese Cowboys will start this highly anticipated basketball season with a 4-0 start. This program has not started a year with 4 straight wins since 1972!
Of course, the kick start and statement game was the historic 76-65 upset of Virginia Commonwealth on the road to begin the Wade coaching era. That win over his former team in Richmond measures extra large in my mind. It was the first season opening win over a major or mid-major opponent in nearly 30 years.
The new band of Cowboys assembled by Wade through the transfer portal led VCU by 20 points and won by 11 against a perennial NCAA Tournament team. The Rams and March Madness go together like Virginia ham and corn on the cob. VCU has a Final Four appearance, 19 NCAA Tournament bids since 1980 and 10 conference championships (the latest was last season in the Atlantic 10).
You put VCU’s success against McNeese basketball’s 30 year losing records and I would say it’s the biggest victory for the Pokes in program history. At least since their opening game, overtime win against the Houston Cougars during the 1995-96 season.
You can’t over state the impact of beating VCU when you consider the Cowboys’ ring leader and maestro head coach was barred from coaching the game. He was serving the first of his 10 game NCAA imposed suspension. It was the first game for a roster full of new McNeese players against top tier competition. And it was in a hostile arena described by Wade as a “hornets’ nest.”
Wade, with a wink and twinkle in his eyes, said this team has some very talented players in guards Shahada Wells, D.J. Richards; returning forward Christian Shumate; and center Antavion Collum, among others.
I have to wonder what heights the Cowboys would be hitting early on if two possible starters C.J. Felder (Florida transfer) and guard Mike Saunders (Utah transfer) were on the floor. Both are awaiting NCAA clearance on paperwork, the bureaucratic maze that goes with the transfer process and, in some cases, grades.
Tough road games to finish out November at Western Carolina, Texas State, Louisiana Tech and UAB might slow down this lightning fast start by the Cowboys but Wade’s plan doesn’t involve a slow build. The always confident coach is not of the mindset that it takes time to gel and form team chemistry to win nowadays.
“I don’t believe in all that (extended time for teams to win under a new coach). I don’t think I said it will take time. Everybody’s here for a reason. We have some commonalties between us as coaches and the players. Look, we have to just go out there and play. We’ve got good players and we will go out there and compete,” Wade says.
Those chances to compete are coming fast and furious with the four aforementioned road games plus an interesting stretch of home matchups at the Legacy Center from Dec. 2 to 17 against UT Martin, Southern Miss and UL Lafayette. Add in a road trip to Ann Arbor to face
Michigan on Dec. 29 and by then Wade will know exactly just how good this bunch really is.
Wade’s 10-game suspension will end in time for the Dec. 13 game against Southern Miss so expect near sellout crowds at the Legacy Center for the Golden Eagles and Rajun Cajuns match ups.
The positive vibe and high-octane juice Wade and his hoopsters have injected into McNeese athletics could not have come at a better time. The football season has been plodding along to a merciful end with game attendance falling with every loss. Willy the Kid and the Bayou Bandits to the rescue.
The early payoff from Wade’s hiring has meant a record number of season tickets sold, a near sellout of platinum seats and luxury suite boxes and a growing game attendance over those one-sided cupcake games.
The economic dividends are growing in McNeese’s financial coffers from basketball revenues. The media and fan attention from winning is so desperately needed to abate the malaise surrounding the football struggles.
The whole “Willy the Kid, Bayou Bandit” marketing campaign is a tad silly and a tongue in cheek response to Wade’s past NCAA misfortune, but it might just sell more McNeese merchandise. At this stage of rebuilding the basketball program’s appeal, awareness and reputation are a good thing. So, I’ll try and curb my barbs and arrows.
Wade likes to command the room much like he commands the basketball court during his intense practices. He rode into the region on a white horse promising instant success and a highly competitive team. He’s delivered on that promise and expectations might even be on the rise if the Cowboys can duplicate that VCU effort in the challenging games ahead.
Wade, who has had the program hype circle mostly around him, says it’s not about him but about the team and all that goes with it. “It’s not about me. It’s the McNeese Cowboys not the Will Wade Cowboys. Look, I’m just the conduit and the coach. At the end of the day it’s always about our university, our community and our players. I am fortunate enough to be here and fortunate enough to play a small part in it.”
Wade went on to say he, his staff and the players will try and represent the community as best they can and he will try and fade into the background as best he can. Sounds nice and unassuming but a coach with his resume, skills and persona fading to the background is not possible.
McNeese wants him on the front line. They need him on that wall and he looks good on that white horse he rode in on. The Bayou Bandit T-shirts are just lagniappe.
Catch Rick Sarro’s commentary and latest opinions on Soundoff on CBS Lake Charles Tueday and Thursday nights at 10:05 pm and again Saturday at 11 pm and Sunday at 10 pm. Follow Rick on Twitter @ricksarro.
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