Amir Khan, McNeese basketball 'aura' man, is back for March Madness
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Amir Khan, McNeese basketball 'aura' man, is back for March Madness
Isa Almeida, The Oklahoman·The Oklahoman
·
3 min read
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Amir Khannever thought his energy would make him a viral sensation.
Khan, an upcoming sports management senior at McNeese State, rose into unexpected fame last year. For the first time in program history, theMcNeese Cowboyswon anNCAA Tournamentgame, upsetting the much-favored Clemson Tigers. Khan and his boombox led the group of players wherever they walked.
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Following McNeese's exit from the tournament in the second round, his boombox was up for bidding for over $5,000.
But now they're back. And so is he.
Khan briefly exited the program when former McNeese head coachWill Wademoved to NC State, but after just a couple of months, the Lake Charles native decided to go home.
Known as "Aura," Khan credits his fame to his McNeese players.
Troy's head men's basketball coach Scott Cross speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy's Jerrell Bellamy speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy's Thomas Dowd speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy's head men's basketball coach Scott Cross speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy practices during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy practices during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy's Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow (7) ia pictured in the locker oom during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Troy's Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow (7) ia pictured in the locker oom during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg speaks during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort speaks during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Nebraska's Rienk Mast speaks during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
1/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's head men's basketball coach Scott Cross speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
1/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's head men's basketball coach Scott Cross speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
2/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's Jerrell Bellamy speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
3/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's Thomas Dowd speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
4/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's head men's basketball coach Scott Cross speaks to the media during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
5/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy practices during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
6/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy practices during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
7/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow (7) ia pictured in the locker oom during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
8/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Troy's Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow (7) ia pictured in the locker oom during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
9/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg speaks during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
10/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort speaks during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
11/11
See March Madness top moments from NCAA media day, practice at Paycom Center in OKC
Nebraska's Rienk Mast speaks during practice and media day for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Wednesday March 18, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
"(The aura) really just comes from all these players," Khan said. "I'm just holding the speaker, walking out with them, and it comes from their excitement, their hype, and what they do on the court. If we weren't three-peat Southland champions, I don't think all of this would've happened."
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Khan's faith in the players goes strong. He watched them beat Clemson last year, and he believes he can watch them beat Vanderbilt on Thursday.
"(Teams) don't wanna play us," Khan said. "I saw Vanderbilt's reaction. I don't think they were too excited to play us as a 12-seed. I think that's something that's gonna keep going forward."
When he started carrying the boombox around, Khan thought there could be some big reaction from the players, but he could never have imagined how big he would become among college basketball fans.
But Khan is the same guy he was before his face made waves on the internet. He is enjoying every second and every opportunity he's gotten from this longer-lived-than-expected five minutes of fame.
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"I don't feel the need to change anything just because I walk out with the speaker," he said. "I've been able to experience a lot, and I'm just blessed to be able to do this position. I appreciate all the love from everybody, it means a lot and we'll keep it going as long as we can."
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
