WCC changing double-bye tourney format
The West Coast Conference will change its men's and women's basketball tournaments when it becomes a 10-team league in 2014, scrapping the format that rewarded the top two teams with double-byes into the semifinals.
The WCC, which welcomes Pacific in 2013-14, will adopt a traditional 10-team tournament with the 10th seed playing No. 7 and No. 8 vs. No. 9 on the first day. The top six seeds will enter the tournament in the quarterfinals on the second day. Gonzaga's men and women have enjoyed double byes for years at the tournament.
ESPN.com first reported the format change. UPDATE: Here's a release from the WCC.
The conference tournaments will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for at least one more year. The contract runs out after the 2013 event. The WCC is considering several other venues as well as re-upping with the Orleans.