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West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament

Annual college basketball tournament


Annual college basketball tournament

FieldValue
nameWest Coast Conference
men's basketball tournament
optional_subheaderConference basketball championship
imageWest_Coast_Conference_logo_2019_with_name.svg
image_size150
sportCollege basketball
conferenceWest Coast
number_of_teams10
formatSingle-elimination tournament
current_stadiumOrleans Arena
current_locationParadise, Nevada
years1987–present
most_recent2025
current_championGonzaga Bulldogs
most_championshipsGonzaga Bulldogs (22)
televisionESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
website
all_stadiums
all_locations

men's 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. 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.

List of finals

West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"YearWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"ChampionWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"ScoreWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Runner-upWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"VenueWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"CityWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Tournament MVP
1987Santa Clara77–65PepperdineWar Memorial GymnasiumSan Francisco, Ca, Santa Clara
1988Loyola Marymount104–96Santa ClaraToso PavilionSanta Clara, Ca, Loyola Marymount
1989Loyola Marymount75–70Santa ClaraWar Memorial GymnasiumSan Francisco, Ca, Loyola Marymount
1990NoneNoneNoneGersten PavilionLos Angeles, CaNone
1991Pepperdine71–68Saint Mary'sToso PavilionSanta Clara, Ca, Pepperdine
1992Pepperdine73–70GonzagaChiles CenterPortland, Or, Pepperdine
1993Santa Clara73–63PepperdineWar Memorial GymnasiumSan Francisco, Ca, Santa Clara
1994Pepperdine56–53San DiegoToso PavilionSanta Clara, Ca, Pepperdine
1995Gonzaga80–67Portland, Gonzaga
1996Portland76–68Gonzaga, Portland
1997Saint Mary's66–59San FranciscoGersten PavilionLos Angeles, Ca, Saint Mary's
1998San Francisco80–67GonzagaToso PavilionSanta Clara, Ca, San Francisco
1999Gonzaga91–62Santa Clara, Gonzaga
2000Gonzaga69–65Pepperdine, Gonzaga
2001Gonzaga80–77Santa ClaraJenny Craig PavilionSan Diego, Ca, Gonzaga
2002Gonzaga96–90Pepperdine, Gonzaga
2003San Diego72–63Gonzaga, San Diego
2004Gonzaga84–71Saint Mary'sLeavey CenterSanta Clara, Ca, Gonzaga
2005Gonzaga80–67Saint Mary's, Gonzaga
2006Gonzaga68–67Loyola MarymountMcCarthey Athletic CenterSpokane, Wa, Gonzaga
2007Gonzaga77–68Santa ClaraChiles CenterPortland, Or, Gonzaga
2008San Diego69–62GonzagaJenny Craig PavilionSan Diego, Ca, San Diego
2009Gonzaga83–58Saint Mary'sOrleans ArenaParadise, Nv, Gonzaga
2010Saint Mary's81–62Gonzaga, Saint Mary's
2011Gonzaga75–63Saint Mary's, Gonzaga
2012Saint Mary's78–74Gonzaga, Saint Mary's
2013Gonzaga65–51Saint Mary's, Gonzaga
2014Gonzaga75–64BYU, Gonzaga
2015Gonzaga91–75BYU, Gonzaga
2016Gonzaga85–75Saint Mary's, Gonzaga
2017Gonzaga74–56Saint Mary'sNigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga
2018Gonzaga74–54BYUKillian Tillie, Gonzaga
2019Saint Mary's60–47GonzagaJordan Hunter, Saint Mary's
2020Gonzaga84–66Saint Mary'sJoël Ayayi, Gonzaga
2021Gonzaga88–78BYUJalen Suggs, Gonzaga
2022Gonzaga82–69Saint Mary'sAndrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
2023Gonzaga77–51Saint Mary'sDrew Timme, Gonzaga
2024Saint Mary's69–60GonzagaAugustas Marčiulionis, Saint Mary's
2025Gonzaga58-51Saint Mary'sGraham Ike, Gonzaga

;Notes

Results by team

:As of March 12, 2024

Championship game team wins

West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"SchoolWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"WinsWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"LossesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"GamesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Win %West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Last titleWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Last gameGonzagaSaint Mary'sPepperdineSanta ClaraSan DiegoLoyola MarymountSan FranciscoPortlandBYUPacific
2293120232024
5121720242024
34719942002
25719932007
21320082008
21319892006
11219981998
11219961996
0442021
000

Team win–loss records

West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"SchoolWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"GamesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"WinsWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"LossesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Win %West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Avg. SeedWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"YearsGonzagaSaint Mary'sPepperdineSanta ClaraSan DiegoSan FranciscoLoyola MarymountPortlandBYUPacific
836617
723933
713734
693336
663135
622537
592435
511536
251312
12210

As of March 12, 2024.

Team head-to-head results

BYUGonzagaLMUPacificPepperdinePortlandSaint Mary'sSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta Claravs. BYUvs. Gonzagavs. LMUvs. Pacificvs. Pepperdinevs. Portlandvs. Saint Mary'svs. San Diegovs. San Franciscovs. Santa ClaraTotal13–1266–1724–352–1037–3415–3639–3331–3525–3733–36
6–00–40–00–10–23–12–21–10–2
0–62–70–13–51–44–185–91–71–9
4–07–20–15–33–73–13–26–34–5
0–01–01–02–20–00–00–04–02–0
1–05–33–52–22–57–49–51–84–5
2–04–17–30–05–25–13–54–16–2
1–318–41–30–04–71–51–51–46–8
2–29–52–30–05–95–35–14–63–2
1–17–13–60–48–11–44–16–47–3
2–09–15–40–25–42–68–62–33–7

Championship game team head-to-head results

BYUGonzagaLMUPacificPepperdinePortlandSaint Mary'sSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta Claravs. BYUvs. Gonzagavs. LMUvs. Pacificvs. Pepperdinevs. Portlandvs. Saint Mary'svs. San Diegovs. San Franciscovs. Santa ClaraTotal0–421–92–10–03–41–15–112–11–12–5
4–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
0–40–10–01–21–14–102–01–00–3
0–01–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–2
0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
0–02–10–00–00–00–10–10–02–0
0–01–10–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
0–010–40–00–01–00–00–00–10–0
0–00–20–00–01–00–00–00–00–0
0–00–10–00–00–00–01–00–00–0
0–03–02–00–00–20–00–00–00–0

Results by seed

:As of March 12, 2024

Seed win–loss records

West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"SeedWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"GamesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"WinsWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"LossesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Win %12345678910
866917
805327
754134
652936
693435
571938
541638
541638
18513
1239

Championship game seed win–loss records

West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"SeedWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"GamesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"WinsWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"LossesWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Win %West Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Last titleWest Coast Conferenceborder=1color= }}"Last game12345678910
31201120242024
25101520232024
83520082020
51419951999
43119981998
000
1011987
000
000
000

Results by coach

:As of March 12, 2024

Coach win–loss records

CoachSchoolGamesWinsLossesWin pctYearsMark FewRandy BennettHerb SendekShantay LegansStan JohnsonChris GerlufsenSteve LavinWayne TinkleDave SmartEd SchillingDavid Riley
Gonzaga58526
Saint Mary's482919
Santa Clara1468
Portland633
Loyola Marymount624
San Francisco532
San Diego312
Oregon State000
Pacific000
Pepperdine000
Washington State000
CoachSchoolGamesWinsLossesWin pctYearsTom AsburyDick DaveyBrad HollandDan FitzgeraldDave RoseBill GrierCarroll WilliamsLorenzo RomarMax GoodPaul WestheadPhilip MathewsEric RevenoKerry KeatingRex WaltersHank EganRob ChavezDan MonsonJim BrovelliMarty WilsonErnie KentPaul WestphalSam SchollMark PopeTodd GoldenMike DunlapLynn NanceJim HarrickJan van Breda KolffJohn OliveSteve AggersDave FehteLarry SteeleDamon StoudamireDave BollwinkelTerry PorterJessie EvansRodney TentionKyle SmithEric BridgelandEddie SuttonMichael HoltonCharles BradleyLamont SmithJay HillockRon VerlinJack AvinaPaul LandreauxTony FullerVance WalbergBen JohnsonJosh Newman
Pepperdine20155
Santa Clara281414
San Diego251312
Gonzaga19910
BYU1798
San Diego1587
Santa Clara1385
Pepperdine1679
Loyola Marymount1376
Loyola Marymount871
San Francisco1468
Portland15510
Santa Clara1459
San Francisco1358
San Diego1257
Portland1156
Gonzaga651
San Francisco1349
Pepperdine1248
Saint Mary's945
Pepperdine945
San Diego844
BYU844
San Francisco743
Loyola Marymount936
Saint Mary's633
Pepperdine532
Pepperdine532
Loyola Marymount725
Loyola Marymount725
Saint Mary's321
Portland716
Pacific615
Saint Mary's514
Portland514
San Francisco413
Loyola Marymount413
San Francisco413
Pepperdine211
San Francisco211
Portland505
Loyola Marymount303
San Diego303
Loyola Marymount202
Pacific202
Portland101
Saint Mary's101
Pepperdine101
Pepperdine101
Portland101
Pacific101

Championship game coach win–loss records

CoachSchoolGamesWinsLossesWin PctLast titleLast GameMark FewRandy Bennett
Gonzaga2519620232024
Saint Mary's1441020242024
CoachSchoolGamesWinsLossesWin PctLast titleLast GameTom AsburyPaul WestheadDick DaveyDan FitzgeraldCarroll WilliamsRob ChavezPhilip MathewsDan MonsonErnie KentBrad HollandBill GrierDave RoseJim HarrickDave FehteHank EganJan van Breda KolffPaul WestphalRodney TentionMark Pope
Pepperdine43119941994
Loyola Marymount22019891989
Santa Clara41319932007
Gonzaga31219951996
Santa Clara31219871989
Portland21119961996
San Francisco21119981998
Gonzaga21119991999
Saint Mary's11019971997
San Diego11020032003
San Diego11020082008
BYU3032018
Pepperdine1011987
Saint Mary's1011991
San Diego1011994
Pepperdine1012000
Pepperdine1012002
Loyola Marymount1012006
BYU1012021

WCC Tournament Rivalries

Gonzaga–Saint Mary's men's basketball rivalry

The Gonzaga–Saint Mary's men's basketball rivalry is an intra-West Coast Conference college basketball rivalry between the Saint Mary's Gaels men's basketball team of Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California and the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Many analysts and members of the media have touted the Gaels vs. Zags as one of the best, if not the best, college basketball rivalry on the West Coast, as both teams have been consistently two of the top three teams in the conference over the last 2 decades. Gonzaga and Saint Mary's have combined to win 26 out of the last 30 conference championship games, including each of the last 16. The two teams have met a total of 116 times dating back to 1955 and currently meet biannually as a part of WCC conference play, with the potential to play a third game in the WCC tournament and a fourth in the postseason. As of March 2022, they have met 20 times in the WCC Tournament but have never met in any postseason tournaments beyond the end of conference play. Saint Mary's has upset a number 1 ranked Zags squad twice – once in the 2019 WCC final as an unranked team and once in 2022 as #23 in Moraga. And in 2024 took down the Zags in the WCC Championship game by the score 69-60.

Broadcasters

Television

YearNetworkPlay-by-playAnalystSideline
2024ESPNDave FlemmingSean Farnham
2023
2022Molly McGrath
2021
2020Bob WischusenDick VitaleSean Farnham
2019
2018Gene Wojciechowski
2017Dave O'BrienJeff Goodman
2016Brent MusburgerDick Vitale and Fran Fraschilla
2015Dave PaschSean FarnhamJeff Goodman
2014Dave Flemming
2013
2012
2011
2010Terry GannonStephen Bardo
2009ESPN2Stephen Bardo and Steve Lavin
2008ESPNStephen Bardo
2007Dave O'BrienRick Majerus
2006Dave Pasch
2005Terry GannonJimmy Dykes
2004
2003
2002Chris MarloweAnn Meyers
2001Reggie Theus
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993Steve PhysiocKareem Abdul-Jabbar
1992
1991Barry TompkinsQuinn Buckner
1990Canceled
1989Roger TwibellDan Belluomini
1988Ted Robinson
  • As previously mentioned, the 1990 tournament final was canceled following the on-court death of Loyola Marymount player Hank Gathers during the Lions' semifinal game against Portland. LMU was given the league's automatic bid to that year's NCAA tournament by virtue of its regular-season league championship

Radio

YearNetworkPlay-by-playAnalyst
2022Westwood OneRyan RadtkeDoug Gottlieb
2022
2021Dan Dickau
2020Spero DedesAustin Croshere
2019Ryan RadtkeMike Montgomery
2018
2017
2016Kevin CalabroP. J. Carlesimo
2015Bill Frieder
2014Dave Ryan
2013Dial Global SportsTed RobinsonSteve Lappas
2012Kevin Calabro
2011Westwood OneTed RobinsonSteve Lappas
2010P. J. Carlesimo
2009Dave Sims

References

References

  1. (March 26, 2018). "WCC Presidents' Council Approves Men's Basketball Schedule Changes". West Coast Conference.
  2. Meehan, Jim. (April 2, 2018). "Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth says Zags staying in WCC". [[The Spokesman-Review]].
  3. (March 5, 1990). "Other Reactions: WCC Cancels Tournament; TV's Footage Is Dramatic". Los Angeles Times.
  4. (March 4, 2002). "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".
  5. (March 10, 2003). "For the first time in WCC tournament history, the San Diego Toreros are the WCC men's basketball tournament champions".
  6. (March 8, 2004). "Gonzaga defeated Saint Mary's 84-71 to win the WCC conference tournament and claim the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament".
  7. (March 7, 2005). "Gonzaga Captures Tournament Title With 80-67 Win Over Saint Mary's".
  8. (March 8, 2006). "Zags grab third straight WCC title".
  9. (March 5, 2007). "Gonzaga Tops Santa Clara For WCC Title, 77-68".
  10. (March 10, 2008). "San Diego stuns Zags for WCC title".
  11. (March 8, 2008). "WCC Tournament Set To Move To The Orleans Arena In 2009".
  12. (March 9, 2009). "Gonzaga Takes Home WCC Tournament Title".
  13. (March 9, 2010). "Saint Mary's Wins Zappos.com WCC Men's Basketball Championship".
  14. (March 7, 2011). "Zags Heading To Big Dance For 13th Straight Season".
  15. (March 13, 2012). "2011-12 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL Weekly Release: March 13, 2012".
  16. (March 12, 2013). "2013 West Coast Conference Basketball Championships Post-Game Notes".
  17. (March 18, 2014). "2013-14 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL Weekly Release: March 18, 2014".
  18. (March 10, 2015). "WCC Men's Basketball Championship - Finals Recap".
  19. (March 8, 2016). "Crumpacker #WCChoops 2016 Men's Championship Recap".
  20. Faraudo, Jeff. (March 9, 2021). "No. 1 Gonzaga Overcomes Double-Digit Deficit to Claim WCC Title". West Coast Conference.
  21. Faraudo, Jeff. (March 8, 2022). "Gonzaga Wins 2022 WCC Men's Basketball Championship". West Coast Conference.
  22. (November 26, 2020). "2020–21 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Record Book". West Coast Conference.
  23. "2021 UCU West Coast Conference tournament Central". West Coast Conference.
  24. Deitrick, Hayden. "Why Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's Is the West Coast's Best Rivalry in NCAA Basketball". Bleacher Report.
  25. Mehr, Justin. (2016-07-23). "The Best Rivalry Out West: Gonzaga - St. Mary’s".
  26. "Matchup Finder {{!}} College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com".
  27. (February 9, 2019). "Clarke leads No. 4 Gonzaga over Saint Mary's 94-46".
  28. "Men's Championship Week: 20 Conference Champions Punch Their Ticket to NCAA Tournament". ESPN Media Zone.
  29. "Updated Championship Week Presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods Schedule". ESPN Media Zone.
  30. "Championship Week Presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods Schedule". ESPN Media Zone.
  31. "Championship Week: 136 Overall Men's Games". ESPN Media Zone.
  32. "Championship Week: Coverage of a Record 137 Men's Games Begins March 1". ESPN Media Zone.
  33. "Championship Week: Record 190 Games, including Entire BIG EAST in 3D, Begins Thursday, March 3".
  34. "Championship Week Begins Thursday, March 4". ESPN Media Zone.
  35. "Your Championship Week Schedule (UPDATED)". Awful Announcing.
  36. "Your College Basketball Announcing Schedule (Week of March 10th)". Awful Announcing.
  37. "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga dancing again after beating St. Mary's". Westwood One.
  38. "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga 91 – BYU 75". Westwood One.
  39. "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga 75 – BYU 64". Westwood One.
  40. "WCC Championship Highlights: Gonzaga 65 - Saint Mary's 51". Westwood One.
  41. "WCC Championship Highlights: Saint Mary's 78 - Gonzaga 74 F/OT". Westwood One.
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