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.