Predicting the 2022 West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament
The Gonzaga Bulldogs look to defend their title when the West Coast Conference Tournament begins March 3rd in Las Vegas. Here’s how we think the week will play out.
The NCAA Tournament is just weeks away. To practice my brackets, I thought I’d forecast the West Coast Conference Tournament. Beginning Thursday, March 3, the WCC will take over the Orleans Arena to crown a 2022 champion. The Gonzaga Bulldogs won last year. But after a loss in their final regular season game of 2022, can they repeat? Here’s how I think the week will play out.
Round 1 – March 3, 2022
Game 1: 6:00 PM PST – #9 Pacific (8–21 overall, 3–11 WCC) vs. #8 Loyola Marymount (10–17, 3–12) – BYUtv and Stadium Network (out of market).
Pacific and LMU have played twice since February 20, so they should be familiar with each other. The teams split, with the home team taking the win in each game. The main differentiator was Loyola Marymount had a three-point lead at Pacific with 1:18 to go but couldn’t hold on. LMU advances.
Game 2: 8:00 PM PST – #7 San Diego (14–15, 7–9) vs. #10 Pepperdine (7–24, 1–15) – BYUtv and Stadium Network (out of market).
San Diego didn’t have a great season, but Pepperdine’s was outright awful. The Tigers are 1–15 in their last 16, all conference games. USD advances.
Round 2 – March 4, 2022
Game 3: 6:00 PM PST – Winner Game 1 (#8 LMU) vs. #5 Brigham Young (21–9, 8–6) – BYUtv and Stadium Network (out of market).
After a hot start to the season, Brigham Young has a NET ranking of 53. That puts BYU on the wrong side of the March Madness cutoff. They probably need to win out in New Orleans, but depending on how the other conference tournaments play out, a trip to the finals might do it.
The Cougars are far more talented and win handily. BYU advances.
Game 4: 6:00 PM PST – Winner Game 2 (#7 San Diego) vs. #6 Portland (17–13, 7–7) – BYUtv and Stadium Network (out of market).
Portland probably isn’t as good as their record shows. The Pilots haven’t beaten a good team aside from a 69–68 upset against San Francisco on February 9. San Diego has a recent 32-point loss to avenge, and they will. USD advances.