Annual college basketball tournament
The West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament is the annual concluding tournament for the NCAA college basketball in the West Coast Conference (WCC). The winner of the tournament each year is guaranteed a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season. Through 2008, the tournament was played on a rotating basis at the home courts of member teams. The 2009 edition was the first played at a neutral site, namely Orleans Arena in Paradise , Nevada, just outside Las Vegas . The semifinals are broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and the championship is broadcast nationally on ESPN .
The tournament has used several formats in its history, though seeding in all formats has been based strictly on conference record (with tiebreakers used as needed). When the tournament began in 1987, when the conference had eight members, it used a standard single-elimination bracket that was reseeded after the first round so that the highest and lowest remaining seeds played one another in the semifinals. Beginning in 2003, the bottom four seeds played first-round games (5 vs. 8, 6 vs. 7), with the 3 and 4 seeds receiving byes to the quarterfinals and the top two seeds receiving byes to the semifinals. For the 2012 tournament, the first after the 2011 arrival of BYU in the WCC, this format was adjusted so that the 8 and 9 seeds played in the first round, with the winner joining the 5 through 7 seeds in the second round, and the top four seeds continuing to receive byes into the quarterfinals (3 and 4) or semifinals (1 and 2). In addition, reseeding was abolished, with the top seed automatically playing the winner of the quarterfinal game featuring the 4 seed and the 2 seed automatically playing the winner of the quarterfinal game featuring the 3 seed.
Beginning in 2014, the WCC adopted a new format to incorporate a tenth team (Pacific ). The new format is a traditional 10-team tournament. Seeds 1-6 received a bye into the quarterfinals while 7 played 10 and 8 played 9 in the first round. The second round featured the winner of the 7/10 match playing the 2-seed while the winner of the 8/9 match played the 1 seed. The 3 seed played the 6 seed and the 4 seed played the 5 seed. In 2014, the first-round games aired on BYUtv Sports . The afternoon quarterfinal games aired on BYUtv, and the evening quarterfinals were on ESPN2 . One semifinal aired on ESPN and the other on ESPN2, and the championship game was carried by ESPN.
For 2019 and beyond, the tournament returned to a format similar to that used from 2003–2011, with slight changes to the terminology used for the rounds prior to the semifinals. The 7 through 10 seeds play in what is now called the "opening round", the 5 and 6 seeds start play in the "second round", and the 3 and 4 seeds start in the "third round". The top two seeds receive byes into the semifinals.[ 1] According to media reports, the major impetus for this and other changes to WCC basketball was the potential loss of Gonzaga to the Mountain West Conference after the 2017–18 season, which in the end did not happen.[ 2]
List of finals
Year
Champion
Score
Opponent
Venue
Tournament MVP
Notes
1987
Santa Clara
77–65
Pepperdine
War Memorial Gymnasium (San Francisco, California )
Jens Gordon , Santa Clara
1988
Loyola Marymount
104–96
Santa Clara
Toso Pavilion (Santa Clara, California )
Hank Gathers , Loyola Marymount
1989
Loyola Marymount
75–70 (OT)
Santa Clara
War Memorial Gymnasium (San Francisco, California)
Hank Gathers , Loyola Marymount
1990
None
None
None
Gersten Pavilion , (Los Angeles, California )
None
Tournament canceled due to the death of Hank Gathers . Having won the regular season title, Loyola Marymount was awarded the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.[ 3]
1991
Pepperdine
71–68 (OT)
Saint Mary's
Toso Pavilion (Santa Clara, California)
Geoff Lear , Pepperdine
1992
Pepperdine
73–70
Gonzaga
Chiles Center (Portland, Oregon )
Doug Christie , Pepperdine
1993
Santa Clara
73–63
Pepperdine
War Memorial Gymnasium (San Francisco, California)
Steve Nash , Santa Clara
1994
Pepperdine
56–53
San Diego
Toso Pavilion (Santa Clara, California)
Dana Jones , Pepperdine
1995
Gonzaga
80–67
Portland
John Rillie , Gonzaga
1996
Portland
76–68
Gonzaga
Kweemada King , Portland
1997
Saint Mary's
66–59
San Francisco
Gersten Pavilion, (Los Angeles, California)
Brad Millard , Saint Mary's
1998
San Francisco
80–67
Gonzaga
Toso Pavilion (Santa Clara, California)
Hakeem Ward , San Francisco
1999
Gonzaga
91–62
Santa Clara
Matt Santangelo , Gonzaga
2000
Gonzaga
69–65 (OT)
Pepperdine
Casey Calvary , Gonzaga
2001
Gonzaga
80–77
Santa Clara
Jenny Craig Pavilion (San Diego, California )
Dan Dickau , Gonzaga
2002
Gonzaga
96–90
Pepperdine
Dan Dickau , Gonzaga [ 4]
2003
San Diego
72–63
Gonzaga
Jason Keep , San Diego [ 5]
2004
Gonzaga
84–71
Saint Mary's
Leavey Center (Santa Clara, California)
Ronny Turiaf , Gonzaga [ 6]
2005
Gonzaga
80–67
Saint Mary's
Adam Morrison , Gonzaga [ 7]
2006
Gonzaga
68–67
Loyola Marymount
McCarthey Athletic Center (Spokane, Washington )
Adam Morrison , Gonzaga [ 8]
2007
Gonzaga
77–68
Santa Clara
Chiles Center (Portland, Oregon)
Derek Raivio , Gonzaga [ 9]
2008
San Diego
69–62
Gonzaga
Jenny Craig Pavilion (San Diego, California)
Brandon Johnson , San Diego [ 10]
2009
Gonzaga
83–58
Saint Mary's
Orleans Arena (Paradise, Nevada ) [ 11]
Micah Downs , Gonzaga [ 12]
2010
Saint Mary's
81–62
Gonzaga
Mickey McConnell , Saint Mary's [ 13]
2011
Gonzaga
75–63
Saint Mary's
Marquise Carter , Gonzaga [ 14]
2012
Saint Mary's
78–74 (OT)
Gonzaga
Matthew Dellavedova , Saint Mary's [ 15]
2013
Gonzaga
65–51
Saint Mary's
Elias Harris , Gonzaga [ 16]
2014
Gonzaga
75–64
BYU
Sam Dower , Gonzaga [ 17]
2015
Gonzaga
91–75
BYU
Kyle Wiltjer , Gonzaga [ 18]
2016
Gonzaga
85–75
Saint Mary's
Kyle Wiltjer , Gonzaga [ 19]
2017
Gonzaga
74–56
Saint Mary's
Nigel Williams-Goss , Gonzaga
2018
Gonzaga
74–54
BYU
Killian Tillie , Gonzaga
2019
Saint Mary's
60–47
Gonzaga
Jordan Hunter , Saint Mary's
2020
Gonzaga
84–66
Saint Mary's
Joël Ayayi , Gonzaga
2021
Gonzaga
88–78
BYU
Jalen Suggs , Gonzaga[ 20]
2022
Gonzaga
82–69
Saint Mary's
Andrew Nembhard , Gonzaga[ 21]
2023
Gonzaga
77–51
Saint Mary's
Drew Timme , Gonzaga
Results by team
As of March 9, 2021 [ 22] [ 23]
Team win–loss records
School
Games
Wins
Losses
Win Pct
Avg. Seed
Years
Gonzaga
77
61
16
.792
2.11
35 (1987–2021)
Pepperdine
67
36
31
.537
4.74
35 (1987–2021)
Saint Mary's
66
35
31
.530
3.6
35 (1987–2021)
San Diego
61
29
32
.475
5.34
35 (1987–2021)
Santa Clara
64
31
33
.484
4.66
35 (1987–2021)
Loyola Marymount
55
23
32
.418
6.26
35 (1987–2021)
San Francisco
55
21
34
.382
4.94
35 (1987–2021)
Portland
45
12
33
.267
6.74
35 (1987–2021)
BYU
20
10
10
.500
2.6
10 (2012–2021)
Pacific
8
1
7
.125
7.14
7 (2014–2015; 2017–2021)
As of March 7, 2023.
Championship game team win–loss records
Team head-to-head results
BYU
Gonzaga
LMU
Pacific
Pepperdine
Portland
Saint Mary's
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Clara
vs. BYU
–
6–0
0–2
0–0
0–1
0–1
2–1
2–2
0–1
0–2
vs. Gonzaga
0–6
–
2–7
0–1
3–5
1–4
3–16
5–9
1–4
1–9
vs. LMU
2–0
7–2
–
0–0
5–3
2–7
3–1
3–2
6–3
4–5
vs. Pacific
0–0
1–0
0–0
–
1–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
3–0
2–0
vs. Pepperdine
1–0
5–3
3–5
1–1
–
2–5
7–4
7–5
1–8
4–5
vs. Portland
1–0
4–1
7–2
0–0
5–2
–
5–1
3–3
3–1
4–3
vs. Saint Mary's
1–2
16–3
1–3
0–0
4–7
1–5
–
1–5
1–4
6–6
vs. San Diego
2–1
9–5
2–3
0–0
5–7
3–2
4–1
–
4–6
2–1
vs. San Francisco
1–0
4–1
3–6
0–3
8–1
1–3
4–1
6–4
–
7–2
vs. Santa Clara
2–0
9–1
5–4
0–2
5–4
3–4
6–6
2–2
2–7
–
Total
10–10
61–16
23–32
1–7
36–31
13–32
35–31
29–32
21–34
31–33
Championship game team head-to-head results
BYU
Gonzaga
LMU
Pacific
Pepperdine
Portland
Saint Mary's
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Clara
vs. BYU
–
4–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
vs. Gonzaga
0–4
–
0–1
0–0
1–2
1–1
3–8
2–0
1–0
0–3
vs. LMU
0–0
1–0
–
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–2
vs. Pacific
0–0
0–0
0–0
–
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
vs. Pepperdine
0–0
2–1
0–0
0–0
–
0–0
0–1
0–1
0–0
2–0
vs. Portland
0–0
1–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
–
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
vs. Saint Mary's
0–0
8–3
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
–
0–0
0–1
0–0
vs. San Diego
0–0
0–2
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
0–0
–
0–0
0–0
vs. San Francisco
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
–
0–0
vs. Santa Clara
0–0
3–0
2–0
0–0
0–2
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
–
Total
0–4
19–8
2–1
0–0
3–4
1–1
4–9
2–1
1–1
2–5
Results by seed
As of March 9, 2021 [ 22] [ 23]
Seed win–loss records
Seed
Games
Wins
Losses
Win Pct
1
80
64
16
.800
2
74
49
25
.662
3
70
39
31
.557
4
60
27
33
.450
5
62
30
32
.484
6
50
15
35
.300
7
49
14
35
.286
8
48
13
35
.271
9
15
5
10
.333
10
10
3
7
.300
Championship game seed win–loss records
Seed
Games
Wins
Losses
Win pct
Last title
Last game
1
28
18
10
.643
2021
2021
2
22
9
13
.409
2019
2021
3
8
3
5
.375
2008
2020
4
5
1
4
.200
1995
1999
5
4
3
1
.750
1998
1998
6
0
0
0
–
7
1
0
1
.000
1987
8
0
0
0
–
9
0
0
0
–
10
0
0
0
–
Results by coach
As of March 9, 2021 [ 22] [ 23]
Coach win–loss records
Championship game coach win–loss records
Broadcasters
Television
Radio
See also
References
^ "WCC Presidents' Council Approves Men's Basketball Schedule Changes" (Press release). West Coast Conference. March 26, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018 .
^ Meehan, Jim (April 2, 2018). "Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth says Zags staying in WCC" . The Spokesman-Review . Spokane, WA . Retrieved April 2, 2018 .
^ Hodges, Jim; Stewart, Larry (March 5, 1990). "Other Reactions: WCC Cancels Tournament; TV's Footage Is Dramatic" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 6, 2013.
^ "The Gonzaga Bulldogs earned their fourth straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by defeating the Pepperdine Waves, 96-90, in the 2002 West Coast Conference championship game" . March 4, 2002.
^ "For the first time in WCC tournament history, the San Diego Toreros are the WCC men's basketball tournament champions" . March 10, 2003.
^ "Gonzaga defeated Saint Mary's 84-71 to win the WCC conference tournament and claim the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament" . March 8, 2004.
^ "Gonzaga Captures Tournament Title With 80-67 Win Over Saint Mary's" . March 7, 2005.
^ "Zags grab third straight WCC title" . March 8, 2006.
^ "Gonzaga Tops Santa Clara For WCC Title, 77-68" . March 5, 2007. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016 .
^ "San Diego stuns Zags for WCC title" . March 10, 2008.
^ "WCC Tournament Set To Move To The Orleans Arena In 2009" . March 8, 2008.
^ "Gonzaga Takes Home WCC Tournament Title" . March 9, 2009.
^ "Saint Mary's Wins Zappos.com WCC Men's Basketball Championship" . March 9, 2010.
^ "Zags Heading To Big Dance For 13th Straight Season" . March 7, 2011.
^ "2011-12 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL Weekly Release: March 13, 2012" (PDF) . March 13, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016 .
^ "2013 West Coast Conference Basketball Championships Post-Game Notes" (PDF) . March 12, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2013 .
^ "2013-14 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL Weekly Release: March 18, 2014" (PDF) . March 18, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016 .
^ "WCC Men's Basketball Championship - Finals Recap" . March 10, 2015.
^ "Crumpacker #WCChoops 2016 Men's Championship Recap" . March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016 .
^ Faraudo, Jeff (March 9, 2021). "No. 1 Gonzaga Overcomes Double-Digit Deficit to Claim WCC Title" . West Coast Conference. Retrieved March 10, 2021 .
^ Faraudo, Jeff (March 8, 2022). "Gonzaga Wins 2022 WCC Men's Basketball Championship" . West Coast Conference. Retrieved March 9, 2022 .
^ a b c "2020–21 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF) . West Coast Conference. November 26, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2021 .
^ a b c "2021 UCU West Coast Conference tournament Central" . West Coast Conference. Retrieved March 10, 2021 .
^ "Men's Championship Week: 20 Conference Champions Punch Their Ticket to NCAA Tournament" . ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 2016-03-01 .
^ "Updated Championship Week Presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods Schedule" . ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 2015-03-09 .
^ "Championship Week Presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods Schedule" . ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 2014-03-05 .
^ "Championship Week: 136 Overall Men's Games" . ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 2013-03-04 .
^ "Championship Week: Coverage of a Record 137 Men's Games Begins March 1" . ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 2012-02-27 .
^ "Championship Week: Record 190 Games, including Entire BIG EAST in 3D, Begins Thursday, March 3" . Retrieved 2011-03-04 .
^ "Championship Week Begins Thursday, March 4" . ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 2010-03-02 .
^ "Your Championship Week Schedule (UPDATED)" . Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2009-03-09 .
^ "Your College Basketball Announcing Schedule (Week of March 10th)" . Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2008-03-10 .
^ "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga dancing again after beating St. Mary's" . Westwood One. Retrieved 2016-03-09 .
^ "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga 91 – BYU 75" . Westwood One. Retrieved 2015-03-11 .
^ "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga 75 – BYU 64" . Westwood One. Retrieved 2014-03-12 .
^ "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga 65 - Saint Mary's 51" . Westwood One. Retrieved 2013-03-11 .
^ "WCC Championship Highlights: Saint Mary's 78 - Gonzaga 74 F/OT" . Westwood One. Retrieved 2012-03-05 .
Teams Future team Championships & awards Seasons
West Coast Conference championships
NCAA men's college basketball tournaments
Division I
Early season Defunct Early season Conference postseason Defunct Conference postseason Postseason Defunct Postseason
Division II
Conference postseason Defunct Conference postseason Postseason
Division III
Conference postseason Defunct Conference postseason Postseason