June 21, 2002

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The West Coast Conference Presidents Council announced today the league will adopt an eight-team play-in format for both the men's and the women's basketball tournaments effective in 2003.

The women will play March 6-9, 2003, and the men will square off March 7-10, 2003, at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the University of San Diego campus, site of the past two tournaments.

The Presidents Council also announced the league will rotate the championship site on a regional basis beginning in 2004. The 2004 and 2005 tournaments will be played in the Bay Area, 2006 and 2007 events will be held in the Pacific Northwest and 2008 and 2009 tournaments will be staged in southern California. Host sites will be awarded based on a bid process to be developed by the conference.

Under the new format, the fifth through eighth seeds will compete in the opening round to determine who will advance to the next round of the tournament. Waiting for the winners in the quarterfinals will be the third and fourth seeds, who will have first round byes. The winners of the quarterfinal match-ups will go head-to-head with the top two seeds, who will have byes into the semifinals.

"This format places a premium on regular season success and should lead to a very competitive regular season race in 2003." said Commissioner Michael Gilleran.

2003 West Coast Conference
Basketball Tournament Format

Women                        Men

Thursday, March 6 Friday, March 7
#5 seed vs. #8 seed #5 seed vs. #8 seed
#6 seed vs. #7 seed #6 seed vs. #7 seed

Friday, March 7 Saturday, March 8
#3 vs. Winner #6/#7 #3 vs. Winner #6/#7
#4 vs. Winner #5/#8 #4 vs. Winner #5/#8

Saturday, March 8 Sunday, March 9
#2 vs. Winner #3 vs. #6/#7 #2 vs. Winner #3 vs. #6/#7
#1 vs. Winner #4 vs. #5/#8 #1 vs. Winner #4 vs. #5/#8

Sunday, March 9 Monday, March 10
Championship Championship