Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
WAC Tournament format, dates set
8/2/2023 12:00:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Paul Coro
8-team bracket returns for March 13-16 tourney in Las Vegas
The familiar eight-team WAC Tournament format will return for men's and women's basketball brackets in March, when Grand Canyon teams will vie for championships and the corresponding NCAA tournament automatic berths in Las Vegas.
The WAC Tournament will remain at Orleans Arena for the 14th consecutive year on March 13-16 and be played exclusively at the 9,500-seat venue for the first time since 2021.
The 2024 format will reward two rounds of byes to the top two seeds in each bracket, putting those teams in the WAC Tournament semifinals. The WAC also used an eight-team field from 2018 to 2020, but the field went to six qualifiers in 2021 and 10 in 2022 before being expanded to 12 participants last year with the top four seeds receiving one-round byes.
In the current 11-member conference, three WAC teams in each draw will not reach Las Vegas and the bottom four seeds (Nos. 5-8) for men and women will play first-round games on March 13. Those winners will play second-round games against the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds on March 14, setting up the semifinal matches with the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds on March 15. Each of the tournament's first three days will host four games — two men's games and two women's games.
The men's and women's conference championship games will remain a Saturday event on March 16. Tournament tipoff times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
The WAC Resume Seeding System, introduced last year, will determine tournament seeding with an algorithm that factors nonconference and conference results and competition level.
The GCU men are the WAC Tournament defending champions and have won two of the past three tourneys to punch NCAA tournament tickets. The Lopes women will be considered a favorite to win their first WAC Tournament championship.Â
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The WAC Tournament will remain at Orleans Arena for the 14th consecutive year on March 13-16 and be played exclusively at the 9,500-seat venue for the first time since 2021.The 2024 format will reward two rounds of byes to the top two seeds in each bracket, putting those teams in the WAC Tournament semifinals. The WAC also used an eight-team field from 2018 to 2020, but the field went to six qualifiers in 2021 and 10 in 2022 before being expanded to 12 participants last year with the top four seeds receiving one-round byes.
In the current 11-member conference, three WAC teams in each draw will not reach Las Vegas and the bottom four seeds (Nos. 5-8) for men and women will play first-round games on March 13. Those winners will play second-round games against the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds on March 14, setting up the semifinal matches with the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds on March 15. Each of the tournament's first three days will host four games — two men's games and two women's games.
The men's and women's conference championship games will remain a Saturday event on March 16. Tournament tipoff times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
The WAC Resume Seeding System, introduced last year, will determine tournament seeding with an algorithm that factors nonconference and conference results and competition level.
The GCU men are the WAC Tournament defending champions and have won two of the past three tourneys to punch NCAA tournament tickets. The Lopes women will be considered a favorite to win their first WAC Tournament championship.Â
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