The Cinderella 2025 Deserves
McNeese State knows that March Madness is a business
Welcome back to Club Sportico, where we break down the intersection of sports and money—with an extra bit of humor and opinion. Here’s an ode to McNeese State:
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Jacob: This Cinderella is still looking for its glass slipper shoe deal.
McNeese State netted the biggest upset yet in the 2025 men’s college basketball tournament on Thursday, knocking off No. 5 Clemson, 69-67. But this isn’t your typical scrappy, all-for-the-love-of-the-game underdog.
McNeese State is led by coach Will Wade, who was fired from LSU in 2022 after committing recruiting violations. His actions would be “standard operating procedure” in today’s world of NIL, he said recently.
He’s now set to take the NC State job, something he’s been straightforward about when others might downplay the rumors—maybe because he’s told his players that if they perform well enough in March, he can get them a spot in the Wolfpack. At first, this was suggested as a joke. Then Wade came out and said it:
Wade was clear about what Thursday’s upset means too: ”We’ve gotten freakin’ $25 million worth of free advertising the last couple weeks.”
If a bit crass at times, the “we all know what’s up” attitude is still refreshing after years of milquetoast coaches droning on about the sanctity of amateur athletics.1
Wade’s also been cool with team manager Amir Khan cashing in on his viral fame along the way.
Viral McNeese Hoops Manager Has His Own Manager Now
Khan first caught fire online for rapping along to McNeese State’s tunnel tunes in February.
Wade & Co. have since let him accept several promotional deals. Khan carried a custom, Buffalo Wild Wings boombox onto the court yesterday. I’m told he’ll do the same on Saturday.
He’s still hoping to get some kicks out of the deal (McNeese State is an Under Armour school). But for now, he’s settling for custom socks.
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For the exact opposite of Wade’s candor, look at what’s happening with Maryland coach Kevin Willard as his team prepares for its first round game.