Kevin Keatts is out at NC State. Less than a year after leading the Wolfpack to the Final Four, Keatts is gone. He finished with a 151-113 record and a 69-84 mark in ACC play. NC State’s quick shift after such a high last year feels like a rough breakup — one person leaving, another stepping in. And it looks like McNeese’s Will Wade is ready to slide into that spot.

McNeese’s Wade has reportedly agreed to become the next head coach at NC State, according to ESPN. When asked about the deal, Wade didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” he said. CBS Sports’ Isis Young didn’t hold back when the news broke — and her take left the studio dead quiet. “It’s just unfair,” she added. “The transfer portal for players doesn’t even open until Monday. We should have a coaches’ portal that starts on Monday too.” The frustration was clear — players are expected to stay locked in while coaches can line up their next move mid-tournament. The silence that followed showed just how much her words hit home.

Young’s point hit hard for a reason. McNeese faces Clemson in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, with Wade still running the show. Balancing his team’s tournament hopes with the looming move to NC State creates a tricky challenge. Can Wade really stay focused on McNeese’s tournament run while already planning for recruiting and rebuilding at NC State?

“How can you feel as a player that your coach is 100% in it and trying to win games, meanwhile they’re setting up for the next job?” Young asked during the CBS broadcast. That’s the dilemma McNeese players are facing. They fought all season to reach this point — a chance to make history under Wade — and now they’re wondering if their coach’s heart is still with them.

Wade isn’t pretending it’s not an issue. “The guys are reading it on social media. It’s no secret,” Wade said. “They know. They can read right through the B.S.” Wade’s honesty is refreshing, but that doesn’t mean it won’t create uncertainty when the pressure is on.

Wade has spent the past two seasons at McNeese, winning 57 games and dominating conference play with a 36-2 record. He led McNeese to back-to-back regular-season and conference tournament titles — the program’s most dominant stretch in decades. That success is exactly why NC State came calling.

He also had a strong run at LSU from 2018 to 2022, leading the Tigers to three out of four NCAA tournaments and their first SEC regular-season title in a decade in 2019. Wade went 105-51 at LSU, proving he can win at the highest levels of college basketball.

For McNeese fans, the news is bittersweet. Wade turned McNeese into a serious mid-major threat, and now they’re on the brink of a potential Cinderella run. Losing Wade now — right when the program is poised for its biggest moment — feels like a gut punch.

Meanwhile, NC State is betting that Wade’s success at McNeese translates to the ACC. Rebuilding NC State won’t be easy — the Wolfpack are coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory — but Wade’s ability to turn programs around gives them hope.

His return to a high-profile coaching role also reflects a broader theme in college sports: redemption. Coaches who’ve faced setbacks often find opportunities to rebuild their reputations if they can deliver results. Wade has shown resilience at McNeese — qualities NC State hopes will carry over.

But that’s exactly why Young’s point matters. How can Wade fully commit to McNeese’s tournament run while preparing to take over a struggling ACC program? If McNeese falls short, the distraction of Wade’s looming departure will be hard to ignore.

Will Wade Faces Tough First-Round Challenge

Will Wade’s McNeese squad isn’t getting an easy start in the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys (27-6), fresh off winning the Southland regular-season and tournament titles, will face No. 5 seed Clemson (27-6) on Thursday in Providence, Rhode Island.

For McNeese, this is a huge moment—their second NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. But if Wade’s squad wants to make some noise, they’ll have to clear some serious hurdles. Last year’s first-round exit against Gonzaga, a brutal 65-86 loss, still stings. This time, they’re out to prove they belong.

Clemson isn’t just any five-seed — they’re one of the most complete teams in the country. The Tigers set program records this season for total wins (27), regular-season wins (26), and ACC victories (18). Their second-place finish in the ACC is their best since 1990, and their No. 10 AP Poll ranking entering March Madness is the highest in school history.

Last year, they made a deep run to the Elite Eight, knocking off New Mexico, Baylor, and Arizona before falling to Alabama. Chase Hunter leads the way for the Tigers, averaging 16.4 points per game. Clemson also owns the distinction of being the only ACC team to beat Duke this season — proof they can handle pressure.

The Tigers do have some setbacks. Dillon Hunter, who averaged over 20 minutes per game, broke his hand in the ACC Tournament and is out for the rest of March Madness. But Clemson’s depth and experience make them a tough out.

McNeese is dealing with injury issues too. Alyn Breed, expected to be a scoring leader, has been out since early in the season with a knee injury. Javohn Garcia has stepped up, leading the Cowboys with 12.9 points per game. But going up against a tested Clemson squad is a different challenge. Wade’s coaching ability has been on full display this season — but getting past Clemson would take McNeese’s best performance yet.