Full Breakdown
2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments Overview
3/5/2026, 9:31:37 PM
Key Details of the 2026 West Coast Conference Tournament
The 2026 West Coast Conference (WCC) Men's Basketball Tournament will take place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, a venue that has hosted the event since 2009. This tournament is expected to be the last featuring a 12-team format, as Seattle University joins the conference while Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Washington State are set to depart for the Pac-12/9 in the 2026-27 season. The tournament will transition to a 10-team format in 2027 with the addition of Denver and UC San Diego in subsequent years.
The tournament will follow a stepladder bracket format, with the bottom four teams competing in the first round on March 5, 2026. The first-round matchups include Pepperdine against Portland and San Diego against Loyola Marymount. The quarterfinals will be held on March 8, with ESPN2 broadcasting the games.
Historical Context and Recent Trends
Since relocating to the Orleans Arena, the WCC Tournament has been dominated by the top two seeds, with every champion since 2009 being either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Gonzaga has claimed 12 titles during this period, while Saint Mary’s has won three. The only other team to reach the finals since 2009 was BYU, which has since left the conference.
In terms of NCAA Tournament seeding, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s have consistently performed well, with both teams making it to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 and securing first-round victories against SEC teams.
2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Overview
The 2026 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Men's Basketball Tournament, known as Arch Madness, will be held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. This tournament will feature all 11 teams, although it will have one fewer first-round game due to Missouri State's departure to the FBS and Conference USA.
The tournament will commence on March 5, 2026, with first-round matchups including Drake against Southern Illinois and Indiana State against Valparaiso. The championship game is scheduled for March 8, with CBS broadcasting the final.
Historically, the MVC has been a one-bid league since the departure of Wichita State, with the 2021 NCAA Tournament being the last instance where the conference secured two bids. The top two seeds have won 10 of the last 15 MVC titles since the NCAA field expanded to 68 teams.
2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Insights
The 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Basketball Tournament will return to its traditional early schedule after five years of concluding on Selection Eve. The tournament will take place at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and will feature the top 10 teams.
The first round will begin on March 5, 2026, with matchups including Sacred Heart against Iona and Manhattan against Fairfield. The championship game is set for March 10, with ESPN2 airing the final.
The MAAC has seen varying success in the NCAA Tournament, with teams often landing between seed lines 15 and 16. Notably, Iona made a significant run in 2022, marking the conference's first three tournament wins since the field expanded to 68.
Conclusion
The 2026 men's basketball conference tournaments across the WCC, MVC, and MAAC promise to be competitive events with significant implications for NCAA Tournament seeding. As teams vie for the championship titles, the outcomes will shape the landscape of college basketball heading into the postseason.
