2023–24 McNeese Cowboys basketball team

2023–24 McNeese Cowboys basketball
Southland regular season and tournament champions
NCAA tournament, First Round
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record30–4 (17–1 Southland)
Head coach
Associate head coachBrandon Chambers
Assistant coaches
  • Vernon Hamilton
  • Nick Flory
Home arenaThe Legacy Center
Burton Coliseum
Seasons
2023–24 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
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

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.

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
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

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]

See also


References

  1. ^ 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.
  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.