The internet is buzzing about McNeese State University's March Madness upset win over Clemson, but not entirely for the reasons you'd expect.

The McNeese State Cowboys are moving on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after upsetting Clemson, and they're bringing their student manager and his boom box with them.

Madness' newest Cinderella story tastes a little like boudin. The McNeese State Cowboys, the 'Bayou Bandits' or just 'Pokes' to their Lake Charles hometown, held on to defeat fifth-seeded Clemson Thursday afternoon in the first major upset of the 2025 men's NCAA basketball tournament.

And Drake over Missouri. It suffered some setbacks, too — we’re looking at you, VCU and UCSD. But Slingshot isn’t one to dwell in the past. Instead, let’s turn its attention to Saturday’s second-round games that meet the Bracket Breakers’s upset qualification of at least a five-seed difference.

Madness picks, predictions, odds for McNeese vs Purdue second-round Midwest Region game on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Who wins?

Watch the No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers (23-11) attempt to earn a trip to the Sweet 16 in an NCAA Tournament second round matchup against the No. 12 seed McNeese Cowboys (28-6) on Saturday at

The No. 12 Clemson Tigers square off against the McNeese Cowboys in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Thursday's meeting is the first this season for the squads.