McNeese State Might Just Break the 14-Seed Curse—And I’m Here for It

Look, I’m not saying McNeese State is about to run through the NCAA Tournament like a prime UConn squad, but if there was ever a mid-major ready to make history, it’s these guys. The Cowboys are built different. Not in the "we have a future NBA lottery pick carrying us" way, but in the "we’re about to frustrate the hell out of a bunch of Power 5 teams" way.  

And let’s talk about the man running the show—Will Wade. Yeah, that Will Wade. The guy who was running recruiting at LSU like a Fortune 500 company and now has McNeese playing with the confidence of a team that has absolutely no business being this good. If you know, you know—when a coach like Wade gets a second chance at a mid-major, he’s out for blood.  

See, most 14-seeds are just happy to be there. Maybe they get hot from three, knock off a sluggish 3-seed, and then bow out gracefully in the next round. But McNeese? They’ve already proven they can hang with the big boys. They went toe-to-toe with Mississippi State and only lost by three. That’s a rock fight if I’ve ever seen one. And they went into Tuscaloosa and kept it within single digits against Alabama, which is basically like sneaking into a frat party and taking over the aux cord. That’s not supposed to happen.  

The best part? They don’t have some ball-dominant, “get me the hell out of this small school” guy chucking 20 shots a game. Nope. They actually play team basketball. Wild concept, right? In an era where some teams rely on one dude playing hero ball (and usually bricking the game-winner), McNeese is out here moving the rock, playing defense, and making life miserable for teams that think they can just waltz to the next round.  

These guys cut hard every play. You know how most teams go through the motions when running sets, giving about 65% effort until they see an open shot? Not McNeese. They’re out here running actions like their scholarships depend on it. Ask any former player there’s a different level of respect for a team that actually cuts hard for 40 minutes. It’s one of those things that doesn’t show up in a box score, but every hooper sees it and knows.  

Now, let’s be real—their path depends entirely on the bracket gods. If they get matched up with a slow, unathletic team that thinks playing defense is optional, it wrap. They can absolutely make a deep run, and if they somehow sneak into the Elite Eight, they’ll be the first 14-seed in history to do it. That’s right—not even your favorite Cinderella story from years past pulled that off.  

So if you’re looking for chaos in March (which, let’s be honest, is the whole point of this tournament), keep an eye on McNeese State. They might just be the most dangerous underdog in the field. And if they actually do the unthinkable? Just remember—I called it first.