McNeese Men’s Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule
The 2023-24 McNeese Cowboys non-conference basketball schedule will feature seven home games, its most home games ever in the Legacy Center and will feature three NCAA Division I opponents, the most at home since the 2014-15 season.
The Cowboys, under the direction of new head coach Will Wade, will host UT-Martin on Dec. 2, Southern Mississippi on Dec. 13 and Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 17. Wade's first game back from his 10-game suspension will be the Southern Miss contest.
McNeese will open the season on Nov. 6 at VCU, a place where Wade led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and 2016. Following that, the Cowboys will return home for three straight, non-D1 games – Nov. 10 vs. College of Biblical Studies, an NAIA program out of Houston; Nov. 13 vs. Champion Christian and Nov. 14 against LeTourneau.
On Nov. 18, McNeese makes a return trip to Western Carolina then will take part in the Louisiana Tech MTE (multi-team event) and will play Texas State on Nov. 21 followed by a Nov. 22 meeting against Louisiana Tech.
McNeese will visit Alabama-Birmingham on Nov. 28 before returning home against UT-Martin. Prior to hosting Southern Miss, on Dec. 5 the Cowboys will host Mississippi University for Women, who has fielded a men's team the past several years.
The Cowboys will close out their non-conference slate at Michigan on Dec. 29.
Coach Will Wade had this to say in a press release:
We are excited about our non-conference schedule. It's great to have seven home games in the Legacy Center for our fans. This will be a very challenging slate but one that we look forward to. We will compete against some of the top programs in the country.
McNeese will play Michigan and UAB for the first time as both teams are coming off NIT appearances. The Blazers, 29-12 a year ago, fell in the championship game of the National Invitational Tournament while the Wolverines (18-16) lost in the second round of the same tourney.
The Cowboys will play Western Carolina for just the second time. The Cowboys lost 88-69 last season in the McNeese MTE. McNeese will also play UT-Martin for the second time in history after falling by three points last year at UTM in the first-ever matchup.
Southern Miss will be making is seventh appearance in Lake Charles and first since the 2011-12 season. The Eagles posted a 25-8 record last season which included an 86-67 win at home over the Cowboys. USM lost to UAB in the first round of the NIT.
McNeese and ULL will renew its storied rivalry as the Cowboys will be looking to snap an eight-game losing streak against the Cajuns. ULL won 78-70 last season in the Legacy Center and has won the last three times played in the Lake City. The Cajuns finished 26-8 last year and appeared in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Southland Conference schedule will be released on August 1.
2023-23 McNeese Cowboys Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 6 at VCU
Nov. 10 College of Biblical Studies
Nov. 13 Champion Christian
Nov. 14 LeTourneau
Nov. 18 at Western Carolina
Nov. 21 vs. Texas State (Louisiana Tech MTE)
Nov. 22 vs. Louisiana Tech (Louisiana Tech MTE)
Nov. 28 at UAB
Dec. 2 UT-Martin
Dec. 5 Mississippi University for Women
Dec. 13 Southern Mississippi
Dec. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette
Dec. 29 at Michigan
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