June 21, 2002

San Bruno, Calif.-The WCC Presidents Council announced today that effective with the 2003 WCC Basketball Tournament, the league will adopt an 8-Team/ Play-In format for both the men and the women. The women will play March 6-9, 2003 and the men will square-off March 7-10, 2003.

Under the new format, the #5 through #8 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 #3 and #4 seeds, who will have first round byes. The winners of the quarterfinal match-ups will go head-to-head with the #1 and #2 seeds, who will have byes through the first two rounds of the tournament.

"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.

The 2003 WCC Basketball Tournament will be held at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the University of San Diego campus. Beginning in 2004, the league will rotate the championship site regionally. The 2004 and 2005 tournament will be held in the Bay Area, 2006 and 2007 in the Northwest and 2008 and 2009 in Southern California.

2003 West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament Format 8-Team/Play-In (14 games/ 5 Days) Women's Tournament: March 6-9 Men's Tournament: March 7-10

Women Men Thursday, March 6 #5 seed-#8 seed #6 seed-#7 seed

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

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

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

Monday, March 10 Finals

WCC Basketball Tournament Site Rotation 2003: San Diego 2004 and 2005: Bay Area 2006 and 2007: Northwest 2008 and 2009: Southern California