WCC Basketball: 2024 conference tournament preview and predictions

Bracketology

Had this tournament started four weeks ago, the situation would have been different in the WCC. Back then, Gonzaga had zero Quad 1 wins and looked more like a bubble team than ever before in their history. Fast forward and include recent wins over Kentucky, San Francisco, and Saint Mary’s away from home and the Bulldogs will be dancing.

Throw in Saint Mary’s success and you can count on two WCC teams in the NCAA Tournament field. Gonzaga will certainly get a lower seed than they’ve had in recent years, but Saint Mary’s has a chance for a decent seed, especially if they can win this tournament. Neither should realistically be on the bubble at this point, especially with both ranked in the AP Top 25 and owning valuable wins.

Outside of those two schools there really isn’t anyone else with a chance at making the NCAA Tournament field. San Francisco has won 21 games and have a decent NET at 63, but are just 1-9 against Quad 1 and 2 opponents, with zero Quad 1 wins and an 0-4 mark against the WCC’s top teams. Beyond Santa Clara, nobody else in this league has a NET in the top half.

If someone does the unthinkable and upsets those juggernauts, they likely won’t be looking at a favorable seed. San Francisco could certainly scratch out a 13 or 14 seed at best, but anyone beneath that is likely a 16-seed. Then again, anyone below that has a monumental task ahead and will probably fall early in the WCC Tournament. It’s all about Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.