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2020 WCC Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Thursday, March 5th (first round); Friday, March 6th (second round); Saturday, March 7th (quarterfinals); Monday, March 9th (semifinals); Tuesday, March 10th (championship)

Yes, this tournament is six days long with no games on Sunday because of BYU’s “no play on Sunday” rule. But with the stepladder format, it’s likely to only be a slog for those who attend.

Format

Stepladder bracket

Site(s)

The Orleans Arena is Las Vegas is again the site.

TV/Streaming Info

ESPN will carry the championship and first semifinal. The second semifinal and Saturday’s quarterfinals are on ESPN2. The first two rounds are streaming on both BYU TV and WCC Network. BYU TV and the WCC’s various cable TV partners will also air those games.

Participants

All 10 teams are involved.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Thu., March 5)

BYU TV, NBCS Bay Area, Spectrum Sportsnet, AT&T SN Rocky Mtn., and Root Sports will air both games. WCC Network will stream both games.

Game 1: No. 9 San Diego Toreros (9-23, 2-14) 61, No. 8 Loyola Marymount 75
The Lions won the lone meeting of the season at home.

Game 2: No. 10 Portland Pilots (9-23, 1-15) 62, No. 7 Santa Clara 76
The Broncos swept the season series.

Second Round (Fri., March 6)

BYU TV, NBCS California, AT&T SN Rocky Mtn., and Root Sports will air both games. WCC Network will stream both games.

Game 3: No. 8 Loyola Marymount Lions (11-21, 4-12) 53, No. 5 San Francisco 82
The Dons swept the season series.

Game 4: No. 7 Santa Clara Broncos (20-13, 6-10) 73, No. 6 Pepperdine 84
The Waves swept the season series.

Quarterfinals (Sat., March 7)

ESPN2 will air both games.

Game 5: No. 5 San Francisco 72, No. 4 Pacific Tigers (23-10, 11-5) 54
The season series was a road split.

Game 6: No. 6 Pepperdine Waves (16-16, 8-8) 82, No. 3 Saint Mary’s 89 (2OT)
The Gaels won the lone meeting of the season at home.

Semifinals (Mon., March 9)

Game 7: No. 5 San Francisco Dons (22-12, 9-7) 77, No. 1 Gonzaga 81
The Bulldogs swept the season series.

Game 8: No. 3 Saint Mary’s 51, No. 2 BYU Cougars (24-8, 13-3) 50
The season series was a home split.

Championship (Tue., March 10)

Game 9: No. 3 Saint Mary’s Gaels (26-8, 11-5) 66, No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-2, 15-1) 84
The Bulldogs swept the season series.

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, the WCC’s No. 1 or 2 seed has won each and every tournament title. Last year’s victory by second-seeded Saint Mary’s was the first for a two since 2016

• 1 seed (6): 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
• 2 seed (4): 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019

10-Year NCAA Seeding Record

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 11 seed (5): 2011, 2013 (at-large), 2015 (at-large), 2016, 2019 (automatic)
• 1 seed (3): 2013 (automatic), 2017 (automatic), 2019 (at-large)
• 7 seed (3): 2012 (automatic), 2012 (at-large), 2017 (at-large)
• 8 seed (2): 2010 (at-large), 2014 (automatic)
• 10 seed (2): 2010 (automatic), 2014 (at-large)
• 2 seed (1): 2015 (automatic)
• 4 seed (1): 2018
• 14 seed (1): 2014 (at-large)

Naturally, Gonzaga is responsible for all five top-four seeds. The WCC has sent more than one team to the NCAAs in seven of the past 10 seasons, with this season’s group likely to make it eight in 11.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

Gonzaga: 2019 (1 seed, at-large, Elite Eight)
Saint Mary’s: 2019 (11 seed, automatic, 1st Round)
BYU: 2015 (11 seed, at-large, First Four)
Pacific: 2013 (15 seed, Round of 64, Big West member)
San Diego: 2008 (13 seed, 2nd Round)
Pepperdine: 2002 (10 seed, 1st Round)
San Francisco: 1998 (14 seed, 1st Round)
Portland: 1996 (14 seed, automatic, 1st Round)
Santa Clara: 1996 (10 seed, at-large, 2nd Round)
Loyola Marymount: 1990 (11 seed, Elite Eight)

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