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The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men's basketball tournament is an annual event that has been held since 1984. The tournament is hosted by the Western Athletic Conference, which was founded in 1962. The winner of the WAC tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament. The event has been held at both campus sites and neutral sites throughout its history. Since 2023, the WAC has used a new seeding system based on advanced team metrics. Transitional schools are allowed to participate in the WAC tournament upon joining the conference.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | WAC Men's Basketball Tournament |
| Full Form | Western Athletic Conference |
| Year of Inception | 1984 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Participating Teams | California Baptist, Utah Valley, Tarleton, Utah Tech, Grand Canyon, Abilene Christian, UT Arlington, Southern Utah, Seattle |
| Host | Alternates between campus sites and neutral sites |
| Location | Delta Center, Salt Lake City; Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay |
| New Seeding System | Based on advanced team metrics by Ken Pomeroy |
| Eligibility | Transitional schools are allowed to play |
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What You'll Learn
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
The WAC men's basketball tournament has been hosted at both campus sites and neutral sites throughout its history. From the inaugural event in 1984 until 1992, the tournament was held on the campus of the regular-season champion. In 1993 and 1994, the tournament was hosted at a neutral site, the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, which was located less than five miles from the campus of then-conference member Utah. From 1995 through 2009, the tournament returned to campus sites, with the location determined through a predetermined bidding process.
Starting with the 2023 tournament, the WAC adopted a new seeding system based on advanced team metrics developed by statistical guru Ken Pomeroy. Transitional schools are allowed to play in the WAC tournament upon their arrival in the conference, and tournament entry is based on conference record.
The WAC men's basketball tournament has a rich history, with teams like Grand Canyon, Utah Valley, California Baptist, and Tarleton competing for the championship. The tournament provides an opportunity for these schools to showcase their talent and earn a spot in the prestigious NCAA basketball tournament.
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WAC tournament seeding system
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is the conference championship tournament for men's basketball for the WAC. The winner of the WAC tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament every year.
Starting with the 2023 tournament, the WAC adopted a new seeding system based on advanced team metrics. This system, known as the WAC Resume Seeding System, uses analytics to determine tournament seeding by calculating each team's rating based on their wins and losses. The system weighs wins and losses based on the strength of the opponent and whether the game was at home, with each game holding a valuation of 1.0. The teams with the 12 best records in conference play qualify for the tournament, with seeding then based on the amount of WAC points accumulated throughout the season. The top four teams receive first-round byes, and the top two teams no longer automatically advance to the semifinal round.
The new seeding system was developed to improve the WAC's chances of earning a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament and advancing beyond the first round. It aims to reward teams with tougher strength of schedules and lower the penalty for losing to strong teams. The system also uses the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) to evaluate the strength of a win.
The WAC tournament has been held annually since 1984, with the location alternating between campus sites and neutral sites. The 2024 WAC men's basketball tournament, for example, was held at the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, near Las Vegas.
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WAC tournament locations
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men's basketball tournament is the conference championship tournament for the Western Athletic Conference. The WAC was founded in 1962, but the annual basketball tournament has only been held since 1984. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament every year.
The tournament has been hosted at both campus sites and neutral sites throughout its history. From the inaugural event in 1984 until 1992, the tournament was hosted by the regular season champion. However, in 1993 and 1994, it was held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, which was considered a neutral site due to its proximity to the campus of then-conference member Utah. From 1995 through 2009, the tournament returned to on-campus sites, with the location determined through a predetermined bidding process.
Starting with the 2023 tournament, the WAC adopted a new seeding system based on advanced team metrics developed by statistical guru Ken Pomeroy. Among current WAC members, California Baptist has competed in at least one WAC tournament but has yet to reach the title game. Utah Valley made its first appearance in 2025, while Tarleton and Utah Tech are still transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I and are ineligible for NCAA-sponsored postseason play until 2024-25.
The 2025 Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament will be held primarily at the Orleans Arena, with the opening round taking place at an alternate location due to scheduling conflicts with the WCC finals. In the past, the WAC has rented out the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay for the opening round.
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WAC tournament participants
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men's basketball tournament is the conference championship tournament for the Western Athletic Conference. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament every year. The WAC adopted a new seeding system in 2023, based on advanced team metrics developed by statistical guru Ken Pomeroy. Entry to the tournament is still based on conference records. Transitional schools are allowed to play in the WAC tournament upon their arrival in the conference, and tournament locations have alternated between being hosted at campus sites and neutral sites.
Among current WAC members, California Baptist has competed in at least one WAC tournament but has not reached the title game. Utah Valley made it to the tournament in 2025. Tarleton and Utah Tech have yet to play in a WAC tournament, as they are still transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I, and are ineligible for NCAA-sponsored postseason play until 2024-25.
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WAC tournament schedule
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men's basketball tournament is the conference championship tournament for the Western Athletic Conference. Although the WAC was founded in 1962, the annual tournament has only taken place since 1984. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament.
The event has been hosted at both campus sites and neutral sites throughout its history. From the first tournament in 1984 until 1992, the tournament was held at the regular season champion's campus. In 1993 and 1994, the event was held at a neutral site, the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, which was located less than five miles from the campus of then-conference member Utah. From 1995 through 2009, the tournament returned to being held on campus sites, with the location determined through a predetermined bidding process.
Starting with the 2023 tournament, the WAC adopted a new seeding system based on advanced team metrics developed by statistical guru Ken Pomeroy. Tournament entry will still be based on conference records. Among current WAC members, California Baptist has competed in at least one WAC tournament but has never reached the title game. Utah Valley made its debut in 2025. Tarleton and Utah Tech have yet to compete in a WAC tournament as they are still transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I and are ineligible for NCAA-sponsored postseason play until 2024-25.
Current WAC rules allow transitional schools to play in the WAC tournament upon their arrival in the conference.
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Frequently asked questions
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Basketball Tournament is held annually and has alternated between being hosted at campus sites and neutral sites.
The WAC was founded in 1962, but the annual tournament has only been held since 1984.
The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament every year. Starting in 2023, the WAC adopted a new seeding system based on advanced team metrics.
The 2025 tournament took place at the Orleans Arena, with the opening round held at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
Current WAC rules allow transitional schools to play in the WAC tournament upon their arrival in the conference.
