WCC Basketball: 2024 conference tournament preview and predictions
By Joey Loose
Predictions
First Round
#8 Pepperdine vs. #9 Pacific (March 7, 5:30pm)
Both of these teams have already fired their head coaches and are clearly looking forward to the future. However, the Tigers haven’t beaten a D1 team since November, went winless in conference play, and lost both games to Pepperdine by double-digits. Expect the Waves to pull out another game.
Pepperdine wins
Second Round
#5 San Diego vs. #8 Pepperdine (March 8, 9:00pm)
It’s been an up and down season for San Diego, who at one point had won six of seven games in league play. Oddly enough, the Toreros and Waves beat each other on the road, though both games were back in January. With Pepperdine looking towards the future, expect San Diego to take care of business in their first game.
San Diego wins
#6 Portland vs. #7 Loyola Marymount (March 8, 11:30pm)
Both games between these teams were double-digit affairs, though Portland’s two-game winning streak to finish the season did include a win over Loyola this past weekend. Neither team is playing particularly well down the stretch, with both defenses struggling against top WCC teams. Loyola Marymount was slightly better this season so we’ll look for them to bounce back against the Pilots.
Loyola Marymount wins
Quarterfinals
#4 Santa Clara vs. #5 San Diego (March 9, 10:00pm)
Another pairing where the road team won both games, there have been moments when each Santa Clara and San Diego have looked good this season, namely when the Broncos beat Gonzaga nearly two months ago. Things haven’t necessarily been going the Broncos’ way, but we’ll give them the edge over the Toreros.
Santa Clara wins
#3 San Francisco vs. #7 Loyola Marymount (March 10, 12:30pm)
This past Saturday was the only game San Francisco lost in WCC play outside of Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, including two sizeable wins over Loyola Marymount. Even with a tough stretch to end the season, we see the Dons bouncing back over the Lions without too much trouble, especially after that 10-2 start to conference play.
San Francisco wins