PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Will Wade’s future is a hot topic this week. 

There are also many McNeese players, as seven of them have NCAA experience compared to just one, Shahada Wells, last season.

While they aren’t the Cinderella story of a year ago, one team member has outdone the rest when it comes to media attention.

Senior manager Amir Khan is still a hot topic of conversation. CBS requested that he participate in the post-practice press conference along with Wade and two players.

Khan has owned social media since his video of leading McNeese onto the floor with a boombox and rap music hit the internet.

“It’s been wild,” said Khan. “I never would have guessed it.”

Since then, he has been doing national podcasts and interviews. He even picked up three NIL deals, including Buffalo Wild Wings, which gave him a new boom box to lead the Cowboys onto the floor for Thursday’s game with Clemson.

“It has been amazing to see,” said Wade. “He’s a star now.”

He even held a courtside press conference during McNeese’s workout Wednesday.

Khan is a senior from Barbe High School. 

RIVALS AGAIN: After much talk about taking time off from playing each other, McNeese and Louisiana-Lafayette have agreed to do battle on the court once more. 

The neighborhood rivals signed a four-year extension to continue their rivalry without missing a dribble. The two teams will play at the Legacy Center next November, and the series will not miss a beat.

After the Cajuns dominated, the Cowboys won the last two under Wade. The game will likely be played early in the season, sometime around the middle of November, and probably on a Saturday afternoon.

TOUGH GOING: McNeese finished the season playing the 24th-ranked non-conference strength of schedule. 

Three of the Cowboys’ opponents (Alabama, Miss. St., and Liberty) made the NCAA Tournament, while two others (Santa Clara and North Texas) are in the NIT. Clemson will also be the third Top 25 foe McNeese has played.

The Tigers enter the match ranked 12th in this week’s AP Poll. Alabama was No. 2, and Miss. St. was No. 25 when the Cowboys played them. McNeese did receive four votes itself this week.

HIGHER GROUND: McNeese earned a 12 seed in the Midwest Regional for the second straight year after not getting above a 15 in its first two trips to the tournament. 

However, the result was the same. Powerhouse Gonzaga was too much for the Cowboys, as they lost in the opening round in Salt Lake City.

Still, there is progress.

“I think it shows our program is getting respect nationally,” said Wade. “You just have to keep going back to the tournament and taking your shot. You will break through.”

HOT HAND: Junior guard DJ Richards has been on fire from long range of late. Over the last 10 games, Richards has hit 35 of 58 (60.3 percent) on 3-point shots.

He was the Southland Conference leader in 3-point shooting at 45%. 

Last year in the tournament, Richards was 3 of 7 in Gonzaga’s loss. He hopes to make a bigger impression this time around.