For the first time since 2002, McNeese State is in the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys haven't often been a part of March Madness but will look to do damage in 2024 as a No. 12 seed.
McNeese could certainly make some noise this March. They have a proven coach in Will Wade, who enjoyed success at VCU and LSU before recruiting violations led to his dismissal at the latter school, and an experienced team that creates a lot of turnovers.
Indeed, McNeese could be a household name, especially if it upsets perennial powerhouse Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament's first round.
Either way, many will be asking one question about McNeese State when the school does suit up for March Madness action. Where exactly is the university located?
Here's what to know about McNeese State and its athletic programs as the Cowboys gear up for a potential NCAA Tournament run.
SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ
Live NCAA bracket news | TV schedule | Printable PDF
Where is McNeese located?
McNeese State is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was founded in 1939 and was originally known as Lake Charles Junior College.
Lake Charles is located in Southwestern Louisiana. It is about 35 miles east of the state's Texas border, 75 miles west of Lafayette, and about 125 miles away from Baton Rouge, where LSU is located.
McNeese has 79 buildings over its 1,560 acres, per the school's official website. This includes its athletic facilities and three working farms. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of about 5,707, per the U.S. News & World Report.
EXPERT PICKS: DeCourcy (UConn) | Bender (UConn) | Iyer (UConn) | Yanchulis (South Carolina women)
What conference is McNeese in?
McNeese's athletic programs compete in the Southland Conference. The conference was founded in 1963 and includes teams from Louisiana and east Texas.
The current full members of the conference are as follows:
- Houston Christian University
- Incarnate Word
- Lamar
- McNeese State
- University of New Orleans
- Nicholls State
- Northwestern State
- Southeastern Louisiana
- Texas A&M-Commerce
- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
The Southland Conference sponsors 18 sports — eight men's and 10 women's programs — and competes at the Div. I level.
McNeese State's teams are known as the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Its football team competes at the FCS level, also known as Div. I-AA.
HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5
McNeese name origin
As mentioned, McNeese State was originally called Lake Charles Junior College, but it changed its name in 1950 to honor John McNeese, the first superintendent of schools of Imperial Calcasieu Parish.
McNeese was born in New York City in 1843 but eventually moved to Texas after the Civil War. He was a businessman and cattle rancher in his early days before he earned a law degree from Tulane in 1887. He then became the superintendent of schools in 1888 and held that job until his 1913 retirement, one year before his death.
McNeese supported consolidated schools in rural areas and used his position to advance education in the parish. He is described by McNeese State's website as "a renowned Southwest Louisiana educator."
REGION-BY-REGION GUIDES: South | Midwest | West | East
McNeese NCAA Tournament history
McNeese State is making its third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024. They haven't yet won a March Madness game at the Div. I level, as they lost to Illinois in 1989 and Mississippi State in 2002.
Below is a brief summation of those results:
| Tournament | Result | Final game |
| 1989 | Lost in first round | 77-71 vs. No. 1 Illinois |
| 2002 | Lost in first round | 70-58 vs. No. 14 Mississippi State |
While McNeese's NCAA Tournament history isn't long or successful, coach Will Wade has a solid March resume. He has guided his teams to the NCAA Tournament in six of the past eight seasons and has a 4-5 record overall with a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2019.
UPSET PICKS: 10 seeds | 11 seeds | 12 seeds | 13 seeds
That might not seem like a great record, but Wade may have what it takes to get McNeese its first-ever March Madness win.
