WCC announces 2012-13 conference schedule

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The race for the West Coast Conference men’s basketball crown will begin on January 2, 2013 as the WCC announced its conference men’s basketball schedule on Thursday.  Each of the nine WCC teams will play the others twice – for a total of 16 conference games – over a nine-week span culminating on March 2. 

Anticipation for the WCC basketball season to arrive has never been higher. 2011-12 was a memorable season in the West Coast Conference as, for the first time ever, five WCC teams won 20 or more games and earned postseason berths – including three WCC teams in the NCAA Tournament. The West Coast Conference is proud to claim three of the five Division I teams that have won at least 25 games in each of the last five seasons: BYU, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s (along with Duke and Kansas). 

The 2012-13 West Coast Conference men’s basketball schedule gets underway on January 2, 2013, when Bay Area rivals San Francisco and Santa Clara square off. The following night, six more teams take to the hardwood in WCC play, including Loyola Marymount visiting BYU. The Lions look to build upon last season’s run to the CIT quarterfinals, while the Cougars advanced to the NCAA Second Round in their first West Coast Conference season. Also on January 3, Gonzaga plays at Pepperdine and Portland travels to San Diego. The Bulldogs will try to get back atop the conference standings – where they resided for 11 straight years until their streak was snapped in 2012, while a young Pepperdine squad looks to make noise under second year head coach Marty Wilson. Portland should be a much improved team, returning 11 letterwinners from last year’s roster, while San Diego boasts a dynamic young backcourt and won four of its final six conference games a season ago.

Defending WCC champion Saint Mary’s becomes the final West Coast Conference team to open WCC play, when the Gaels host Loyola Marymount on January 5. Led by 2012 WCC Player of the Year and Olympian Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary’s captured its first outright WCC title since 1989 a season ago. However, Loyola Marymount was the only team – in the WCC, or otherwise – to win in Moraga last season.

A rematch of last season’s WCC Championship game pits Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga on the season’s second week (Jan. 10), Saint Mary’s at BYU (Jan. 16), and the Bulldogs hosting BYU (Jan. 24).  January comes to a close with Saint Mary’s visiting rival San Francisco.

In February, several key match-ups loom, including Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s (Feb. 14), BYU at Saint Mary’s (Feb. 21), and Gonzaga at BYU (Feb. 28). The 2013 WCC regular season concludes on March 2 with four games, including Santa Clara at Saint Mary’s and BYU at Loyola Marymount.

The 2013 West Coast Conference Basketball Championships will take place from March 6-11 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

As part of their long-term partnership, the WCC and ESPN are finalizing national television selections for the coming season. Fans can expect an announcement regarding the full slate of WCC-ESPN telecasts in the coming month. Visit WCCsports.com for the complete 2012-13 West Coast Conference men’s basketball schedule.

* Coaches vs. Cancer Classic

^ Exhibition Game

@ at EnergySolutions Arena