Possible Obstacle to NC State Basketball’s Pursuit of Will Wade
NC State basketball might not be the most appealing option for Will Wade if his McNeese team has a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
As strange as it may seem, NC State fans who are strongly backing Will Wade in the Wolfpack’s search for a new head coach might want to consider rooting against his No. 12 seed McNeese State Cowboys (27-6) in the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise, they could unintentionally be setting themselves up for disappointment.
Wade has maintained a successful coaching career, with a 253-106 overall record (70.5 percent) over 11 seasons, coaching at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, and McNeese State.
Repeat Complete☑️🎥#BayouBandits | #GeauxPokes pic.twitter.com/5HaGVF0pDL
— McNeese Men’s Basketball (@McNeeseMBB) March 16, 2025
However, his national appeal is somewhat limited, mainly due to the recruiting-related penalties he faced at LSU and the fact that he has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game in six appearances.
This year, Wade has a chance to significantly improve his stock in the coaching search, starting with a Round of 64 matchup against his alma mater, No. 5 seed Clemson (27-6), in the Midwest Region of the tournament in Providence, R.I., at 3:15 p.m. ET Thursday (truTV).
A win over the Tigers could make Wade a serious candidate for other programs with openings, and possibly even attract NBA interest.
Reports indicate that NC State is progressing well in its pursuit of Wade as their top choice. However, it’s understandable if some fans are concerned about the possibility of McNeese State becoming this year’s Cinderella team—after NC State’s own Cinderella run to the 2024 Final Four as a No. 11 seed.
Leave a Reply