2023–24 McNeese Cowboys basketball team

2023–24 McNeese Cowboys basketball
2023–24 McNeese Cowboys basketball
Southland regular season and tournament champions
NCAA tournament, First Round
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	30–4 (17–1 Southland)
Head coach	Will Wade (1st season);
Associate head coach	Brandon Chambers
Assistant coaches	Vernon Hamilton; Nick Flory;
Home arena	The Legacy Center; Burton Coliseum
	Seasons ← 2022–23 2024–25 →

The 2023–24 McNeese Cowboys basketball team represented McNeese State University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys, led by first-year head coach Will Wade, played their home games on-campus at The Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as members of the Southland Conference.

2023–24 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
v t e	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
McNeese †	17	–	1	.944	30	–	4	.882
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	14	–	4	.778	21	–	12	.636
Nicholls	13	–	5	.722	20	–	14	.588
Lamar	12	–	6	.667	19	–	14	.576
Southeastern Louisiana	10	–	8	.556	15	–	17	.469
Northwestern State	7	–	11	.389	9	–	23	.281
Texas A&M–Commerce*	6	–	12	.333	13	–	20	.394
New Orleans	4	–	14	.222	10	–	23	.303
Houston Christian	4	–	14	.222	6	–	23	.207
Incarnate Word	3	–	15	.167	8	–	23	.258
* ineligible for the 2024 NCAA tournament due to transition period

† 2024 Southland tournament winner

Preseason polls

Southland Conference Poll

The Southland Conference released its preseason poll on October 10, 2023. Receiving 142 votes overall and 6 first place votes, the Cowboys were picked to finish second in the conference.^[1]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Southeastern	144 (6)
2	McNeese	142 (6)
3	New Orleans	132 (3)
4	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	124 (5)
5	Northwestern State	84
6	Nicholls	71
7	Texas A&M–Commerce	66
8	Houston Christian	50
9	Lamar	45
10	Incarnate Word	42

Preseason All Conference

Christian Shumate, forward, and Shahada Wells, guard, were selected as first team members of a Preseason all conference team. Javohn Garcia, guard, was selected as a second team member.^[1]

Roster

2023–24 McNeese Cowboys men's basketball team

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Name	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown
G	0	T'John Brown	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	164 lb (74 kg)	Fr	Dallas, TX
G	1	Omar Cooper	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	Jr	Atlanta, GA
G	2	DJ Richards, Jr.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	So	Houston, TX
G	3	Mike Saunders, Jr.	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	189 lb (86 kg)	Jr	Indianapolis, IN
F	5	Antavion Collum	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	GS	Memphis, TN
F	10	Roberts Berze	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	208 lb (94 kg)	Sr	Sigulda, Latvia
F	11	CJ Felder	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	239 lb (108 kg)	Sr	Sumter, SC
F	12	Dionjahe Thomas	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	233 lb (106 kg)	So	Houma, LA
G	13	Shahada Wells	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	GS	Amarillo, TX
G	14	Javohn Garcia	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	183 lb (83 kg)	Jr	Columbus, OH
G	20	Wesley Fields	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	163 lb (74 kg)	RS Fr	Baton Rouge, LA
F	22	Seth Mays	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	RS Jr	Baton Rouge, LA
F	23	Nasir Mann	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	Jr	Gainesville, FL
F	24	Christian Shumate	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	213 lb (97 kg)	Jr	Chicago, IL
F	35	Cameron Jones	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	GS	Memphis, TN

Head coach

Will Wade (Clemson)

Assistant coach(es)

Brandon Chambers (VCU)
Vernon Hamilton (Clemson)
Nick Flory

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: October 18, 2023

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
Nov 6, 2023* 6:00 pm, ESPN		at VCU	W 76–65	1–0	23 – S. Wells	13 – C. Shumate	4 – S. Wells	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
Nov 10, 2023* 4:00 pm, −		Biblical Studies	W 96–55	2–0	26 – A. Collum	8 – A. Collum	5 – O. Cooper	The Legacy Center (2,221) Lake Charles, LA
Nov 13, 2023* 7:00 pm, ESPN		Champion Christian	W 110–46	3–0	15 – Tied (2)	10 – C. Shumate	4 – Tied (2)	The Legacy Center (1,970) Lake Charles, LA
Nov 14, 2023* 7:00 pm, ESPN		LeTourneau	W 81–49	4–0	15 – DJ Richards, Jr.	10 – C. Shumate	6 – C. Jones	The Legacy Center (1,924) Lake Charles, LA
Nov 18, 2023* 3:00 pm, ESPN		at Western Carolina	L 74–76	4–1	37 – S. Wells	8 – C. Shumate	3 – S. Wells	Ramsey Center (1,916) Cullowhee, NC
Nov 21, 2023* 3:00 pm, −		vs. Texas State Louisiana Tech MTE	W 59–48	5–1	15 – A, Collum	11 – A. Collum	4 – O. Cooper	Thomas Assembly Center (132) Ruston, LA
Nov 22, 2023* 3:00 pm, ESPN		at Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech MTE	L 62–71	5–2	15 – C. Shumate	7 – A. Collum	5 – S. Wells	Thomas Assembly Center (2,012) Ruston, LA
Nov 28, 2023* 7:00 pm, ESPN		at UAB	W 81–60	6–2	36 – S. Wells	21 – C. Shumate	7 – O. Cooper	Bartow Arena (2,976) Birmingham, AL
Dec 2, 2023* 2:00 pm, ESPN		UT Martin	W 91–80	7–2	25 – S. Wells	8 – S. Wells	6 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (2,269) Lake Charles, LA
Dec 5, 2023* 7:00 pm, −		Mississippi University for Women	W 92–23	8–2	15 – D. Richards Jr.	8 – N. Mann	10 – O. Cooper	The Legacy Center (2,073) Lake Charles, LA
Dec 13, 2023* 7:00 pm, ESPN		Southern Miss	W 67–48	9–2	24 – D. Richards Jr.	14 – A. Collum	4 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (3,494) Lake Charles, LA
Dec 17, 2023* 3:00 pm, ESPN		Louisiana	W 74–72	10–2	18 – S. Wells	8 – S. Wells	5 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (4,300) Lake Charles, LA
Dec 29, 2023* 6:00 pm, BTN		at Michigan	W 87–76	11–2	30 – S. Wells	10 – S. Wells	6 – S. Wells	Crisler Center (12,588) Ann Arbor, MI
Southland Conference regular season
Jan 6, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN		at Texas A&M–Commerce	W 73–67	12–2 (1–0)	25 – S. Wells	10 – S. Wells	5 – O. Cooper	The Field House (446) Commerce, TX
Jan 8, 2024 6:30 pm, ESPN		at Northwestern State	W 68–59	13–2 (2–0)	18 – S. Wells	10 – C. Shumate	5 – S. Wells	Prather Coliseum (1,035) Natchitoches, LA
Jan 13, 2024 4:00 pm, ESPN		Southeastern Louisiana	W 74–65	14–2 (3–0)	22 – J. Garcia	11 – C. Shumate	7 – S. Well	The Legacy Center (4,200) Lake Charles, LA
Jan 15, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		Lamar Battle of the Border (Rivalry)	W 88–69	15–2 (4–0)	21 – C. Shumate	15 – C. Shumate	9 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (3,487) Lake Charles, LA
Jan 20, 2024 5:00 pm, ESPN		at Incarnate Word	W 80–66	16–2 (5–0)	20 – M. Saunders, Jr.	7 – C. Shumate	6 – S. Wells	McDermott Center (376) San Antonio, TX
Jan 22, 2024 6:00 pm, ESPN		at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	W 62–61	17–2 (6–0)	12 – D. Richards Jr.	13 – C. Shumate	2 – Tied (2)	American Bank Center (2,416) Corpus Christi, TX
Jan 27, 2024 4:00 pm, ESPN		New Orleans	W 102–65	18–2 (7–0)	20 – S. Wells	7 – C. Shumate	8 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (4,200) Lake Charles, LA
Jan 29, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		Northwestern State	W 89–65	19–2 (8–0)	15 – C. Shumate	8 – C. Shumate	5 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (4,058) Lake Charles, LA
Feb 3, 2024 3:30 pm, ESPN		at Southeastern Louisiana	L 74–77	19–3 (8–1)	16 – C. Felder	8 – C. Shumate	6 – J. Garcia	Pride Roofing University Center (1,043) Hammond, LA
Feb 5, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		Texas A&M–Commerce	W 77–51	20–3 (9–1)	16 – S. Wells	7 – C. Shumate	5 – M. Saunders Jr.	The Legacy Center (3,703) Lake Charles, LA
Feb 10, 2024 4:00 pm, ESPN		Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	W 74–67	21–3 (10–1)	14 – A. Collum	13 – C. Shumate	7 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (4,324) Lake Charles, LA
Feb 12, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		at Houston Christian	W 105–54	22–3 (11–1)	16 – D. Richards, Jr.	10 – C. Shumate	6 – S. Wells	Sharp Gymnasium (924) Houston, TX
Feb 17, 2024 3:00 pm, ESPN		at Nicholls	W 74–47	23–3 (12–1)	12 – C. Shumate	12 – C. Shumate	5 – S. Wells	Stopher Gymnasium (1,100) Thibodaux, LA
Feb 24, 2024 4:00 pm, ESPN		Incarnate Word	W 87–71	24–3 (13–1)	18 – C. Shumate	10 – C. Shumate	7 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (4,213) Lake Charles, LA
Feb 26, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		at Lamar Battle of the Border (Rivalry)	W 58–56	25–3 (14–1)	23 – S. Wells	8 – A. Collum	2 – Tied (3)	Neches Arena Beaumont, TX
Mar 2, 2024 4:00 pm, ESPN		Nicholls	W 83–62	26–3 (15–1)	17 – J. Garcia	13 – C. Shumate	6 – S. Welss	The Legacy Center (4,211) Lake Charles, LA
Mar 4, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		Houston Christian	W 87–69	27–3 (16–1)	24 – S. Wells	11 – C. Felder	6 – S. Wells	The Legacy Center (3,373) Lake Charles, LA
Mar 6, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN		at New Orleans	W 81–57	28–3 (17–1)	15 – Tied (3)	16 – C. Shumate	4 – A. Collum	Lakefront Arena (959) New Orleans, LA
Southland Tournament
Mar 12, 2024 5:30 pm, ESPNU	(1)	(4) Lamar Semifinals	W 76–57	29–3	27 – Wells	7 – Shumate	5 – Wells	The Legacy Center (4,200) Lake Charles, LA
Mar 13, 2024 4:00 pm, ESPN2	(1)	(3) Nicholls Championship	W 92–76	30–3	27 – Wells	6 – Shumate	6 – Wells	The Legacy Center (4,200) Lake Charles, LA
NCAA Tournament
Mar 21, 2024 6:25 p.m., TBS	(12 MW)	vs. (5 MW) No. 18 Gonzaga First Round	L 65–86	30–4	19 – Tied (2)	11 – C. Shumate	3 – D. Richards Jr.	Delta Center Salt Lake City, UT
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest. All times are in Central.

Source^[2]

Conference awards and honors

Weekly awards

Weekly honors
Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week	Shahada Wells	G	December 4, 2023	^[3]
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week	DJ Richards	G	December 18, 2023	^[4]
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week	Shahada Wells	G	January 2, 2024	^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b "Southeastern Edges Out McNeese as Favorites in Men's Hoops Preseason Poll; Team Announced". Southland Conference. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ James Hill (December 4, 2023). "McNeese's Wells garners Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week accolade". Retrieved December 5, 2023.
^ James Hill (December 18, 2023). "McNeese's Richards Earns Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved December 18, 2023.
^ James Hill (January 2, 2024). "McNeese's Wells Earns First Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week of 2024". Retrieved January 8, 2024.

[PrePolls-1] "Southeastern Edges Out McNeese as Favorites in Men's Hoops Preseason Poll; Team Announced". Southland Conference. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[2] "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[3] James Hill (December 4, 2023). "McNeese's Wells garners Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week accolade". Retrieved December 5, 2023.

[4] James Hill (December 18, 2023). "McNeese's Richards Earns Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved December 18, 2023.

[5] James Hill (January 2, 2024). "McNeese's Wells Earns First Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week of 2024". Retrieved January 8, 2024.

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