2024 WCC Tournament

Curious, has anyone heard any rumors about the format for the WCC Tournament now that BYU is gone?

They have an opportunity to keep a similar format, but make it a manageable Saturday-to-Tuesday event rather than the six-day odyssey they've had for the last few years. 5/8 and 6/7 on Saturday, winners play 3/4 on Sunday, winners play 1/2 on Monday, final Tuesday.

All they have to do to make it happen is either just take the top 8 teams in the standings to Vegas, or have the tournament start at a campus site on Tuesday with #8 hosting #9 and the winner off to Vegas.

Dean Murdoch wrote:Curious, has anyone heard any rumors about the format for the WCC Tournament now that BYU is gone?

They have an opportunity to keep a similar format, but make it a manageable Saturday-to-Tuesday event rather than the six-day odyssey they've had for the last few years. 5/8 and 6/7 on Saturday, winners play 3/4 on Sunday, winners play 1/2 on Monday, final Tuesday.

All they have to do to make it happen is either just take the top 8 teams in the standings to Vegas, or have the tournament start at a campus site on Tuesday with #8 hosting #9 and the winner off to Vegas.

I don’t know how fixed in stone this is, but I have heard that ESPN wants the final to stay at Tuesday. I don’t know if Sunday will be a day off or if the tourney will me shortened at the front end.

Geezaldinho wrote:I don’t know how fixed in stone this is, but I have heard that ESPN wants the final to stay at Tuesday. I don’t know if Sunday will be a day off  or if the tourney will me shortened at the front end.

Yeah, I figured the Monday semis and Tuesday final would be set. Seems like ESPN wants them there and it's a perfect spot for the WCC to be.

Surely they would just get rid of the day off? I believe the WCC was the only conference with a full day off in the middle of its tournament and obviously that was only to accommodate BYU.

Don't shoot the messenger, but it is my understanding from a conversation with a now retired WCC administrator in Las Vegas that the Tournament format will not change for 2024...and will continue to be the six-day odyssey...partially due to the contract with the Orleans and partially because of TV obligations.

I was told Sunday will continue to be an "off day," and my recollection is that the men and women will each play one game on Thursday...the 8/9 game, and then the same format and byes as 2023 for the rest of the tournament.

I guess there could be some tweaks to avoid the Thursday games, but that was not mentioned during my conversation in early March.

I forgot that the Saturday quarterfinals have been on ESPN2 for a number of years now. That has to be playing a factor if the off day is staying, but it would sure be nice just to be able to get in for 4 days and watch the whole tourney in that time.

Men's & Women's First Round | Thursday, March 7
12:00 PM WBB Game 1: No. No. 8 San Diego vs. No. 9 Pepperdine  ESPN+
2:30 PM MBB Game 1: No. 8 Pepperdine vs. No. 9 Pacific                ESPN+

Men's & Women's Second Round | Friday, March 8
12:00 PM WBB Game 2: No. 5 Pacific vs. Game 1 Winner               ESPN+
2:30 PM WBB Game 3: No. 6 Saint Mary's vs. No. 7 LMU                ESPN+
6:00 PM MBB Game 2: No. 5 San Diego vs. Game 1 Winner            ESPN+
8:30 PM MBB Game 3: No. 6 Portland vs. No. 7 LMU                  ESPN+

Men's & Women's Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 9
1:00 PM WBB Game 4: No. 4 San Francisco vs. Game 2 Winner       ESPN+
3:30 PM WBB Game 5: No. 3 Portland vs. Game 3 Winner               ESPN+
7:00 PM MBB Game 4: No. 4 Santa Clara vs. Game 2 Winner          ESPN2
9:30 PM MBB Game 5: No. 3 San Francisco vs. Game 3 Winner       ESPN2

Women's & Men's Semifinals | Monday, March 11
12:00 PM WBB Game 6: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. Game 4 Winner            ESPN+
2:30 PM WBB Game 7: No. 2 Santa Clara vs. Game 5 Winner          ESPN+
6:00 PM MBB Game 6: No. 1 Saint Mary's vs. Game 4 Winner         ESPN
8:30 PM MBB Game 7: No. 2 Gonzaga vs. Game 5 Winner              ESPN2

Women's & Men's Finals | Tuesday, March 12
1:00 PM WBB Championship                                                        ESPNU
6:00 PM MBB Championship                                                         ESPN

2024 West Coast Conference Awards:

Coach of the Year - Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's
Player of the Year - Augustas Marciulionis, Saint Mary's
Defensive Player of the Year - Mitchell Saxen, Saint Mary's
Freshman of the Year - Ryan Beasley, San Francisco
Newcomer of the Year - Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
Sixth Man of the Year - Deuce Turner, San Diego

First Team

Michael Ajayi, Pepperdine
Adama-Alpha Bal, Santa Clara
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Aidan Mahaney, Saint Mary's
Augustas Marciulionis, Saint Mary's
Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Mitchell Saxen, Saint Mary's
Anton Watson, Gonzaga
Marcus Williams, San Francisco

Second Team

Alex Ducas, Saint Mary's
Nolan Hickman, Gonzaga
Wayne McKinney III, San Diego
Tyler Robertson, Portland
Deuce Turner, San Diego

Honorable Mention

Joshua Jefferson, Saint Mary's
Houston Mallette, Pepperdine
Carlos Marshall Jr., Santa Clara
Alex Merkviladze, LMU
Ndewedo Newbury, San Francisco
Jevon Porter, Pepperdine
Malik Thomas, San Francisco
Christoph Tilly, Santa Clara

All-Freshman Team

Ryan Beasley, San Francisco
Jake Ensminger, Santa Clara
Tyler Harris, Portland
Braden Huff, Gonzaga
Kevin Patton Jr., San Diego

Portland Players to Earn Three All-WCC Awards
Rick Raivio: 1978 (1st), 1979 (1st), 1980 (1st)
Dionn Holton: 1996 (HM), 1997 (HM), 1998 (1st)
Pooh Jeter: 2004 (1st), 2005 (HM), 2006 (1st)
Jared Stohl: 2009 (HM), 2010 (HM), 2011 (HM)
Alec Wintering: 2015 (2nd), 2016 (1st), 2017 (HM)
Tyler Robertson: 2022 (2nd), 2023 (HM), 2024 (2nd)

Portland WCC All-Freshman Team History
Taishi Ito, 2007
Marcus Lewis, 2005
Dreshawn Vance, 2004
Marcus Shaver, Jr., 2018
Juanse Gorosito, 2023
Tyler Harris, 2024

The team arrived in Las Vegas this morning (Wednesday), and has already been up to the College of Southern Nevada to practice.

This is Coleman Lemke‘s hometown, so it’s dinner at Coleman‘s tonight before more practice at CSN tomorrow and then a shoot-around late tomorrow night in the Orleans Arena in preparation for the 8:30 game on Friday.

Many of us, including the team, are staying at the Park MGM this year, a bit of an upgrade from past seasons, and certainly an upgrade from the Orleans Hotel.

Deaner? Are you back this year?

Dean Murdoch wrote:Curious, has anyone heard any rumors about the format for the WCC Tournament now that BYU is gone?

They have an opportunity to keep a similar format, but make it a manageable Saturday-to-Tuesday event rather than the six-day odyssey they've had for the last few years. 5/8 and 6/7 on Saturday, winners play 3/4 on Sunday, winners play 1/2 on Monday, final Tuesday.

All they have to do to make it happen is either just take the top 8 teams in the standings to Vegas, or have the tournament start at a campus site on Tuesday with #8 hosting #9 and the winner off to Vegas.

I heard the tourney will probably return to Sunday play in 2025. There may be three play-in games Friday (6-11, 7-10, & 8-9), then the 8-team bracket, then the format you described for games Saturday thru Tuesday.

Pacific faces Pepperdine at 2:30pm today. Not sure why they play mid-day. ESPN had a note that tickets are available for $2.

58-9 Pepperdine at halftime.

Pepperdine had a 26-0 start.

Did UOP show up, or send an intramural team? They've already had 12 players on the court.

up7587 wrote:Pacific faces Pepperdine at 2:30pm today.  Not sure why they play mid-day.  ESPN had a note that tickets are available for $2.  

We sunk pretty low under Porter, but I'm not sure we ever sunk quite as low as Pacific is right now. Yeesh.

Rob's Jacket wrote:We sunk pretty low under Porter, but I'm not sure we ever sunk quite as low as Pacific is right now. Yeesh.

I feel bad for the Pacific fans. Unlike PU and USD, they actually have fans who frequent their forum and care about their team.

76-24 with 11 minutes left. I'm thinking this game is going to be under the 150.5 line, and PU will beat the -9.5.

Pepperdine's official X account @PeppBasketball asked "is this how gonz*ga feels every night".

I just realized PU did that without Mallette, who entered the portal already. He was their #2 scorer during the season.

Why in the world would Romar let Ajayi play 35 minutes and two other starters play 30+ in a SIXTY POINT BLOWOUT with another game coming up in 24 hours??

Dean Murdoch wrote:Why in the world would Romar let Ajayi play 35 minutes and two other starters play 30+ in a SIXTY POINT BLOWOUT with another game coming up in 24 hours??

Well, Romar doesn't have a lot of skin in the game. He's 65 years old. Will he be considered for another D-1 head coaching job?