QuikReader

QuikReader

  • Latest
  • Top stories
  • Business
  • Tech
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Sources
Sign in
  1. Sports
  2. Sources
  3. Yahoo Sports
  4. Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Clemson basketball faces familiar faces in March Madness vs McNeese State, including Will Wade

CLEMSON — Clemson basketball will face two of its alumni in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The fifth-seeded Tigers (27-6) will battle No. 12 seed McNeese State (27-6) in the Midwest Region on Thursday (3:15 p.m. ET, truTV) at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island. This will be the first matchup between the two programs, but Cowboys coach Will Wade and assistant Vernon Hamilton are familiar with Clemson as both graduated from the university.

Wade graduated from Clemson in 2005, spending his undergraduate years as a team manager under former Clemson coaches Larry Shyatt and Oliver Purnell's staff. Wade became a graduate assistant in 2005 through 2006 and director of operations in 2006-07.

"I went to Clemson. I follow both in football, basketball, baseball, all sports, but it'll be a tough matchup," Wade said Sunday. "The first time I hear that fight song, may twirl my arm for the 'O-N,' but, no, I'm just joking."

McNeese State advanced to March Madness for the second straight season after winning the Southland Conference tournament. Wade was named the conference's coach of the year award.

Wade has worked on rebuilding his image to be a potential candidate this offseason for other basketball jobs after LSU fired him in 2022 after five seasons. He was fired after receiving a two-year show-cause penalty by the NCAA amid the school receiving a Notice of Allegations stemming from multiple rules violations after a federal corruption investigation into the sport. He also had to serve a 10-game suspension in his first season with McNeese State.

Hamilton played guard for Clemson from 2003 through 2007, receiving ACC's defensive-team honors in 2005-06. He averaged 9.7 points and 2.1 steals in 127 games with Clemson.

MORE: Can Clemson basketball reach Final Four in March Madness bracket? Our prediction

Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Sunday that he doesn't know Wade well.

"I know Will a little bit because we've, obviously, been in coaching for a long time, but he's obviously done a great job everywhere," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. "He's part of the 'Shaka tree' in terms of how they play: very aggressive, good defensively (and) excellent offensive-rebounding team."

The winner of Thursday's first-round matchup will face the winner between No. 4 seed Purdue and No. 13 High Point on Saturday. This is Clemson's best seeding in the NCAA tournament since 2018.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson basketball faces alum Will Wade, McNeese State in March Madness

Read more at Yahoo Sports
  Save story

Topics

  • March Madness
  • March
  • Madness
  • State
  • Basketball

Related

  • Vermont women's basketball will face NC State to open March Madness: Bracket update

    It's UVM women's basketball vs. NC State in March Madness to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in Raleigh
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

  • Oklahoma State women's basketball will face South Dakota State to open March Madness

    It’s Oklahoma State women’s basketball vs. South Dakota State in March Madness to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in Storrs, Conn.
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

  • Ohio State women March Madness: Buckeyes face Montana State to open 2025 NCAA Tournament

    It’s Ohio State women's basketball vs. Montana State to open NCAA Tournament bracket. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in Columbus.
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

  • Auburn basketball March Madness prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round

    Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St Francis in the first round. Here's our prediction for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.
    Yahoo Sports - 11h

  • When does Michigan play in March Madness? Date for game vs UC San Diego in Denver

    Michigan basketball will face UC San Diego in the first round of March Madness. Here's what we know about when the game will be.
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

  • NC State women’s basketball to face Vermont to open March Madness in 2025 NCAA Tournament

    NC State women's basketball earned the No. 2 seed in the Spokane Regional for March Madness. Here's more.
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

  • How Clemson basketball's win vs SMU in ACC tournament impacts March Madness predictions

    Here's a look at how Clemson basketball's win vs SMU in the ACC tournament could affect its March Madness bracket predictions.
    Yahoo Sports - 3d

  • How Clemson basketball's loss vs Louisville in ACC tournament impacts March Madness predictions

    Here's a look at how Clemson basketball's loss vs Louisville in the ACC tournament could affect its March Madness bracket predictions.
    Yahoo Sports - 2d

  • Oklahoma State vs South Dakota State is set in March Madness bracket. Time, date for NCAA game

    Oklahoma State will face South Dakota State in the NCAA Tournament. Here's how to watch, including time, TV schedule and live streaming info.
    Yahoo Sports - 21h

More from Yahoo Sports

  • Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring

    Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.
    Yahoo Sports - 3h

  • Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension

    The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.
    Yahoo Sports - 6h

  • MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it

    The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.
    Yahoo Sports - 8h

  • The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse

    Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

  • Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament

    Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.
    Yahoo Sports - 1d

More in Sports

  • Let the fun begin: Make your picks for the women's tournament

    Compete with friends and family to show off your skills by creating or joining a group now!
    ESPN - 25m

  • The women’s March Madness bracket is here -- so is your guide to all 68 teams

    We look at every team in the women's NCAA bracket.
    ESPN - 25m

  • Why Geovany Quenda can be Chelsea's answer to Saka

    Chelsea look set to land the Sporting CP teen in 2026 and Quenda's style has been compared to an Arsenal star.
    ESPN - 32m

  • Transfer rumors, news: Man United scouting Sesko, Ekitike

    Will Benjamin Sesko or Hugo Ekitike be able to solve Manchester United's goal-scoring issues? Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.
    ESPN - 32m

  • Transfer rumors, news: Man United scouting Sesko, Ekitike

    Will Benjamin Sesko or Hugo Ekitike be able to solve Manchester United's goal-scoring issues? Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.
    ESPN - 32m
© 2025 QuikReader - About - Terms - Privacy