Will Wade used the first official day of practice to send a message to his McNeese State men’s basketball team.

And the message was a simple one: “We aren’t close.”

While the first game is still six weeks away, Wade was in mid-season form Monday.

“Right now our roster isn’t playing as good as it looks on paper,” said Wade, who guided McNeese to a 30-4 record last season and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 22 years.

With half his roster new, Wade was equally tough on both the newcomers and his returning players.

“I’m not happy with the new guys who have come in and I’m really disappointed with our returnees,” said Wade. “They are not standing up to the new guys. We cannot let their losing habits creep into our winning ways.”

While Wade didn’t directly name names, he went on to say he would only be comfortable with two players playing right now. He added he didn’t like his chances going two against five either.

As for those bad habits, Wade said he would take care of them one way or the other.

“They cannot happen, will not happen,” he said. “We will root it out.

“All these new guys better be coming here to win. The guy who can help us win will play and the guy who can’t won’t.”

When asked about his team’s chemistry, Wade said it was a work in progress.

“We don’t have bad chemistry or anything like that, but it can be better and it needs to be for us to become the team we want to be,” he said.

He was even tougher on the club’s leadership. 

“We don’t have any,” Wade said.

The Cowboys have been slowed somewhat lately by injuries. Wade said Javohn Garcia and Jerome Brewer are expected back this week and Joe Charles is getting closer. 

McNeese did see Alyn Breed, who had a strong summer, tear his meniscus recently. He has already had surgery and is hoping to return in four weeks.

“We are a little banged up,” said Wade. “We will practice with the guys we got, play with the guys we got.”

St. Louis University transfer Sincere Parker has been cleared for full practice this week after shoulder surgery about six months ago. He will likely be limited in the early going.

“We aren’t going to rush him in there right away,” said Wade. “The goal is to have everybody ready by the opening game.”

McNeese starts the highly anticipated season on Nov. 4 with a game against South Dakota State. It is part of an upgraded schedule for the Cowboys that includes a trip to Alabama, which made it to the Final Four last spring.

“We could have a better team and not have a better record this year,” said Wade. “We have a tougher schedule and are not going to sneak up on anybody.”

That’s why he has already sent the first message of the season.