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Will Wade assessed technical foul as frustrations build for McNeese vs. Purdue in Round of 32

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•03/22/25•

BarkleyTruax

Will Wade
Nov 11, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade gives instructions to his players from the bench during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

McNeese head coach Will Wade and forward Christian Shumate were issued technical fouls early in the second half against Purdue on Saturday. Wade and his team’s frustrations boiled over as the Cowboys trailed the Boilermakers by double digits.

Shumate was called for a foul on Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer. The foul led to the first media timeout in the second half, and as Shumate was walking away he appeared to say something to the official. He was assessed the tech.

For Wade, he has appeared to make his frustrations heard to the officials several times throughout the matchup before his technical was assessed. Tensions finally boiled over less than five minutes into the second half.

McNeese has trailed by as many as 25 points against Purdue in the Round of 32. The winner earns a spot in the Sweet 16. That team will play the winner betweem Houston and Gonzaga.

The Cowboys defeated No. 5 seed Clemson in the first round to secure its spot in the Round of 32. McNeese was one of two No. 12 seeds to make the second round of the NCAA Tournament, joining Colorado State following its win over Memphis.

Will Wade expected to be NC State’s next head coach

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports confirmed that Wade is expected to be NC State’s new coach, as well: “Just had a source follow up on [Giglio’s] report to say Will Wade’s deal with NC State is getting close but not entirely done,” Norlander responded on X. “Nothing has been signed, but, barring anything unexpected over the next couple of days, Wade is expected to be the next coach at NC State.”

Alas, reports began to surface connecting Wade to NC State over the weekend, after the firing of Kevin Keatts. Jeff Goodman of The Field Of 68 relayed the interest of the Wolfpack in the coach, adding their administration met with Wade last week. Now, he’ll be heading to Raleigh for the 2025-26 season and beyond.

The Cowboys leader was transparent, confirming he’s been in contact with the Wolfpack during a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the McNeese State’s NCAA Tournament Round of 64 clash with Clemson: “I lay it all out there to my players, and my players have laid it all out there to me. We are transparent. We’ve shared it all with each other,” Wade told the media, via FOX’s John Fanta.