WCC Presidents’ Council Approves Men's Basketball Schedule Changes

http://www.wccsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032618aaa.html



SAN BRUNO, Calif. – As part of the previously-adopted Men’s Basketball Enhancement Plan, the West Coast Conference Presidents' Council has approved changes to men’s basketball scheduling as well as the format of the men’s and women’s basketball championships. The scheduling component was passed by the Presidents during their regularly-scheduled March conference call.



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Under the approved plan and beginning with the 2018-19 season, the West Coast Conference men’s basketball season will consist of 16 regular season games (eight home, eight away). Every institution will play seven WCC institutions twice, while playing one member at home and another away – based on approved criteria. Additionally, starting with the 2019-20 season, WCC men’s basketball programs will be required to compete in a multi-team event (MTE) each season, annually play more home games than away games, and schedule and play no more than two non-Division I opponents per season. In addition, the Conference must approve all “guarantee” games in which a WCC member is paid by an opponent to play at the opponent’s venue.



Also beginning next season, the men’s and women’s championship format will change, whereby seeds 7-10 will compete in the opening round, seeds 5-6 will first participate in the second round, seeds 3-4 will first participate in the third round, and the top two seeds will play their first game in the semifinal round. Both the men’s and women’s championships will again take place concurrently at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.



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Passed in the fall by the Presidents’ Council, the Men’s Basketball Enhancement Plan also includes changes to NCAA academic-based revenue distribution, men’s basketball unit revenue distribution, as well as an adjustment to the licensing of future Conference broadcast rights.



Interesting moves!

https://sports.yahoo.com/conference-usa-unique-brilliant-change-185226675.html



"The plan of action is simple and brilliant. According to a column from Chuck Landon of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, the plan is to schedule out the first 14 games of conference play so that each team in the league plays everyone once and their travel partner twice. After that happens, the conference will re-seed based on the league standings and give the best teams in their conference an added bonus to their over profile.



The top five teams in the league will play each other for the final four conference games, as will teams seeded 6-10 and teams seeded 11-14. The goal is simple: to get the best teams in the conference as many possible games as they can against quality competition."

Smart move. Adds an extra incentive in league play and makes league play more entertaining. Way to think outside the box, WCC.

Sorry that was conference USA.