College Basketball 2024-25 Preview Top 40: #40 McNeese Cowboys

David Connelly
Host · Writer

With the 2024-25 College Basketball season on the horizon, it’s time to break down our preseason top 40. Over the next several weeks, we’ll analyze rosters and key storylines for each program. Our journey begins with No. 40. McNeese State.
McNeese Preview: Look Back
McNeese 2023-24 Season: Record: 30–4 (17–1 Southland) | Postseason: Made the NCAA Tournament
It was a historic season for the Cowboys in Will Wade’s debut year with the program. He helped lead them to the most wins in a season with 30, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. With high hopes entering the Big Dance, they were a trendy upset pick over Gonzaga in the opening round. They suffered a drubbing, falling 86-65 in a disappointing effort to the Bulldogs. It was a sour ending to an otherwise successful season, and they’ll be looking for redemption heading into this season.
Connelly’s CBB Rankings: 2024-25 Players | Transfers | Part II | Transfer Portal Teams | Back to School
McNeese Preview: Departures
McNeese Biggest Losses:
Shahada Wells (Graduation) – 17.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.7 APG
Antavion Collum (Transfer to Ole Miss) – 8.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.6 APG
CJ Felder (Graduation) – 6.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.5 APG
The loss of Southland Player of the Year Wells stings the most here, leaving the team without its alpha and leading scorer. Collum is also a significant loss, a stretch big that may have been more important than the box score indicated. It’s a lighter list of departures than most programs, though, with the transfer portal being such a black hole for rosters at the low-major level during the offseason.
McNeese Preview: Arrivals
McNeese Top Addition:
Sincere Parker (St. Louis) – 15.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.9 APG (SportsGrid Transfer Ranking: 79)
Brandon Murray (Ole Miss) – 4.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.4 APG
Quadir Copeland (Syracuse) – 9.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG

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