McNeese St. will Win the NCAA Tournament - Reasons Why By Shawn O'Neal

• The Cowboys are deep and experienced, with seven players scoring 7.1 ppg or better and a roster that's No. 28 nationally in experience with loads of major-conference minutes logged. Javohn Garcia was Southland Player of the Year but Christian Shumate might be their best, a "little big man" with a high motor who was Southland Defensive POY. 

• Winning a basketball game is hard and McNeese has won 11 in a row entering the tourney, third highest in the nation. The Cowboys also have won 22 of the last 23 after getting off to a disappointing start. This team won't roll up and suck its thumb against an 5/6 seed like Ole Miss or Arizona.

• Will Wade's legal, y'all. He of the "strong-ass offer" legend at LSU that eventually got him kicked to the curb for things that are now legal, might well buy a player on his way to the first round. So, keep your friends close and you're persuadable big men closer.

• Yes, the Southland is a low-end circuit -- it's just reality -- but McNeese does not function as a Southland team beyond its address. Almost every player has higher Division I experience and Wade's career rehab stint is likely almost over, meaning this is a team on the brink of doing non-Southland things and should be feared by most.

• If somebody points to the bad loss to Nicholls back on February 1, you tell 'em about the way they gave Mississippi State hell and didn't get fully punked by Bama.