Brackets busted: McNeese survives Clemson comeback for historic March Madness win

The historic performance was McNeese's first-ever victory at an NCAA Tournament.

McNeese head coach Will Wade graduated from Clemson in 2005, serving as a student manager, graduate assistant and director of basketball operations until 2007.

Eliminating his alma mater wasn't on his mind, though.

"We've made school history," he told CBS Sports' Evan Washburn post-game. "It's incredible, this changes our university."

The 42-year-old successfully kept his professional prospects from becoming a distraction for his players.

Wade reportedly agreed to become NC State's next head coach on Wednesday, but that new role will have to wait after Thursday's unexpected result.

Not many fans believed in the Southland Conference champions, either. According to ESPN, only 18.3 percent of submitted brackets picked the Cowboys to advance, and only 1.4M perfect predictions remain (5.7 percent).

That's the definition of a "bracket buster." The 2025 tournament may have identified its first Cinderella candidate.

McNeese will face the No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday in the Round of 32.