Coaches Will Wade, Brad Brownell preview McNeese State-Clemson NCAA tournament matchup
Can vibes be enough to create an upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament?
The 12-5 matchups have historically created some of the most memorable games in tourney history and Thursday’s game between No. 5 Clemson and No. 12 McNeese State could certainly end up as one.
While the Tigers have the size, talent and prestige that comes with being a part of the ACC, their mid-major opponent is hardly a longshot. The Cowboys have NCAA Tournament experience, won their second straight Southland Conference tournament championship and come in with the most recognizable face with team manager Amir Khan. Yes, you read that correctly.
Clemson and McNeese State are set to tip off at the Amica Mutual Pavillion at 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Clemson coach Brad Brownell and McNeese coach Will Wade covered a lot during their press conferences; here are the highlights.
What Brad Brownell said about McNeese State
With Wade having coached at multiple schools - potentially coming to the ACC after this tournament is over – it wasn’t difficult for Brownell to identify what McNeese State does well.
“Very aggressive defensively,” Brownell said. “A lot of pressing and changing of defenses – 1-31, 2-2-1, 1-2-2-, diamond press, five-way switching.
“They run the gamut at you. … I know he did it at VCU and probably LSU as well, Obviously he has recruited very well and I think he gives his guys a lot of confidence on offense. They play with a lot of freedom and guys certainly are aggressive in making plays.”
Coming off a tough loss to Louisville in the ACC semifinal – where Clemson nearly overcame an 11-point lead with two minutes left – the Tigers are ready for the tournament and feel better than they did last season’s after a worse conference tournament finish.
“It’s a little different than last year when we played so poorly against Boston College,” Brownell said. “This year it was more we didn’t play as well as we’d like, made a ferocious fight there ar the end but came up a little short.
“It's really more learning about why we didn't play as well during parts of the Louisville game and how we have to correct that.”
What Will Wade said about Clemson
Wade is a Clemson alum and loves his school so much that he gave his own players a day off on Saturdays so he could watch the Tigers football team play.
Those feelings will be put aside Thursday and Wade thinks his team is more prepared for this game than they were last season, when they lost to Gonzaga, 86-65, in the first round of last year’s tournament.
“They all understand we want to do more this coming season, so I think everybody is still excited,” Wade said. “.. It’s hard to get here, so it’s hard to not be excited when you get here. But I think everybody understands we really want to try to win a game or two and try to advance in this thing and it's not just so giddy about getting here.
“Last year we were giddy about just being here and it was almost like a field trip. This year it's much more about our business and about, hey, let's see if we can do the things we need to do to try to win a game, or maybe more than one, but we'll start at one.”
Wade knows what McNeese State’s biggest problem is going to be – with biggest being the important word.
“It's like football, the difference between FCS [and FBS], it's on the line of scrimmage, right? Basketball, it's the big guys,” Wade said. “So we're a little smaller, quicker. We’ve got to try to play to our advantages and they try to play to their advantages, which is pound the ball on the inside and annihilate us in the paint.
We have to try to play to our advantage, having some quickness. They have one of the premier rebounders in the country. They have a great front line, a great coach, a great scheme, so it's a lot easier said than done.”
Will this be Wade’s last game at McNeese State
Wade was open about everything covered at Wednesday’s press conference, including the possibility that the Cowboys' next loss could be his final game as head coach.
“We addressed it head on. I talked to them Saturday about it,” said Wade, referencing talks with his players. “Here's what it is, here is where we are. It was just me and our players and we all talked about it.
“I'm aware of what I have got going on. They're aware of what we've got going on. You just hit it head-on. We're all on the same page with everything.”
A variety of reports have Wade closely linked with the opening at North Carolina State and when asked if he or his agent, have spoken to anyone at NC State, Wade was succinct with his answer.
“Yes,” he said with a smirk and a pause that signaled it was time for another reporter to ask a question.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Will Wade, Brad Brownell preview McNeese State-Clemson NCAA matchup
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