What Is 2000 WAC men's basketball tournament

Overview

The 2000 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1999–2000 NCAA Division I season. It determined which team would represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament, following a single-elimination format across multiple divisions due to the WAC's unique 16-team structure at the time.

This tournament was notable for being one of the last before the WAC underwent major realignment, losing several members after the 2000 season. The event brought together teams from across two geographical divisions, with games culminating in a final that decided the automatic qualifier for March Madness.

• Louisiana Tech won the tournament by defeating New Mexico State 78–60 in the championship game on March 11, 2000.
• The tournament was held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, a neutral site venue used for several WAC tournaments.
• Due to the WAC's large size, the tournament featured 16 teams split into two 8-team divisions: the Mountain and Pacific divisions.
• Each division held its own single-elimination bracket, with the two division winners advancing to the final championship game.
• Louisiana Tech, representing the Pacific Division, earned the WAC's automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed.

How It Works

The WAC tournament structure in 2000 was complex due to the conference's size and geographic spread. Here’s how the format functioned with key components explained.

• Divisional Format: The WAC was split into two 8-team divisions. Teams played only within their division during the regular season and early tournament rounds.
• Single-Elimination: Each division ran a single-elimination bracket. Losing any game eliminated a team from championship contention.
• Championship Game: The winners of each division’s bracket met in a final. The winner received the NCAA Tournament bid.
• Seeding: Teams were seeded 1 through 8 in each division based on regular-season conference records, with tiebreakers applied as needed.
• Neutral Site: The semifinals and final were held at the Thomas & Mack Center, ensuring fairness and maximizing attendance.
• NCAA Bid: Only the tournament champion earned an automatic bid; no at-large bids were given to other WAC teams.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2000 WAC Tournament with other major conference tournaments of the same year:

The WAC’s 16-team, two-division model was unique compared to other conferences, which typically used standard single-elimination formats. This structure was a response to the conference’s geographic size and membership count, but it was discontinued after 2000 due to realignment. Louisiana Tech’s No. 12 seed reflected the WAC’s mid-major status, though Gonzaga’s rise from the WCC signaled a shift in mid-major competitiveness.

Why It Matters

The 2000 WAC Tournament was a pivotal moment in conference history, marking the end of an era for one of college basketball’s most geographically diverse leagues. Its outcome had lasting implications for member schools and the tournament format itself.

• Louisiana Tech made its first NCAA appearance since 1992, losing in the first round to Arizona, 71–59.
• The WAC lost 8 teams after the 2000 season, including BYU, Utah, and Colorado State, shrinking the conference dramatically.
• The two-division format was abandoned after 2000 due to membership changes and logistical challenges.
• New Mexico State, despite losing the final, became a regular in the NCAA Tournament in later years as an independent WAC power.
• The tournament highlighted the growing parity in mid-major conferences, with Louisiana Tech defeating higher-seeded teams en route to the title.
• It served as a transition point in college basketball, as conference realignment began reshaping the NCAA landscape in the 2000s.

The 2000 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament remains a significant footnote in NCAA history, illustrating how conference structure, geography, and realignment can influence postseason competition and team trajectories.