Two years ago, Heath Schroyer asked, “Why can’t McNeese be like Gonzaga.”

Thursday the McNeese State Athletic Director will find out just how his basketball program stacks up to the Zags.

The Cowboys will play for the first time in the NCAA Tournament in 22 years against the very Mid-Major program they want to emulate in the first round of the Midwest Regional in Salt Lake City.

Tip-off is set for 6:25 p.m. Lake Charles time with the game to be broadcast on TBS.

 

“It is just ironic,” said Schroyer. “Basketball is a funny game. You never know who you are going to get.”

The Cowboys know they will get a national program after being given the 12th seed in their region. After a record-setting season, 30-3 McNeese will take on fifth-seeded Gonzaga (25-7) in the Delta Center.

“We got Gonzaga, it’s exciting,” said McNeese guard Shahada Wells. “We are ready to go to work and get it done. This is our opportunity.”

The winner of that game will play the winner of No. 4 Kansas and No. 13 Samford.

“Growing up, I wanted to go to either Gonzaga or Kansas,” said guard DJ Richards. “Now I may get a chance to play both of them.”

The top seed in the Midwest overall is Purdue, which is the second seed in the entire tournament.

The Cowboys found out their travel plays Sunday in front of a rambunctious crowd inside the Legacy Center.

“We are just excited about being in the tournament,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade. “It is cool when you see your name pop up and all the fans cheer.”

The players noticed as well.

“A great feeling,” said Wells. “Lake Charles came out for us. I’m so excited about our next step.”

For Wells, this game has special meaning. A year ago he lost to Gonzaga in the first round while at TCU.

“I get a second chance at them,” said Wells. 

This is just the third time McNeese has made the NCAA Tournament and on all three occasions, they have been sent to the Midwest Region. The Cowboys lost to Mississippi State in 2002 and Illinois in 1989.

“You always want to play in big games,” said forward Christian Shumate. “Gonzaga is a good program. I don’t think of them as a Mid-Major anymore. 

“This is where we want to be as a program. It has been great, but if we want to be like them we have to play and win games like this.”

McNeese received some extra love from the national media. Jay Bilas of ESPN said they were a team to watch Sunday while Seth Davis of CBS went even further. He picked the Cowboys to win not one but two games and advance to the Sweet 16 the following week in Detroit.

“We don’t worry about that,” said Wade. “We will really just take it one game at a time.”

UConn was given the top seed in the entire tournament and will play in the East Regional.