What Is 1985 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 1985 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship for the Western Athletic Conference, determining which team would receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Held from March 7 to March 9, 1985, it featured six of the conference’s member teams competing in a single-elimination format.

This tournament was notable for being hosted at the University of Wyoming’s Arena-Auditorium, a venue known for its high-altitude conditions and strong home-court advantage. Utah emerged victorious, defeating UTEP in the final to claim the title and secure a spot in the 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

• March 7–9, 1985: The tournament spanned three days, beginning with quarterfinals and culminating in the championship game on March 9.
• Arena-Auditorium: Located in Laramie, Wyoming, this 11,666-seat arena hosted the event due to Wyoming’s top-seeded position in the standings.
• Utah 74–67 UTEP: The championship game saw the University of Utah defeat the University of Texas at El Paso to win the title.
• Automatic NCAA bid: The winner of the WAC Tournament received an automatic qualification to the 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
• Six teams: The field included Utah, UTEP, Wyoming, BYU, New Mexico, and Colorado State, reflecting the WAC’s membership at the time.

How It Works

The 1985 WAC Tournament followed a standard single-elimination format, with seeding based on regular-season conference performance. Higher seeds received byes in the early rounds, and games were hosted at the highest remaining seed’s home court, a common practice before neutral-site tournaments became standard.

• Single-elimination: A loss in any round eliminated a team from contention, increasing the stakes of each game.
• Seeding: Teams were seeded 1 through 6 based on their regular-season conference records, with Wyoming earning the top seed.
• Home-court advantage: The highest remaining seed hosted each round, giving Wyoming a significant edge as tournament host.
• Championship game: The final was played on March 9, 1985, between Utah and UTEP, with Utah winning 74–67.
• NCAA qualification: The tournament winner received the WAC’s automatic bid to the 1985 NCAA Tournament, which Utah accepted.
• WAC membership: In 1985, the WAC included Brigham Young, Utah, Wyoming, UTEP, New Mexico, and Colorado State as full members.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1985 WAC Tournament with similar events in subsequent years and other major conferences:

This table highlights the Utah-BYU-UTEP rivalry that dominated WAC basketball in the late 1980s. Utah and BYU combined to win five consecutive titles from 1985 to 1989, with Utah claiming three and BYU two. The close scores reflect the competitive nature of the conference, and the rotating host cities show the WAC’s geographic diversity across the western United States.

Why It Matters

The 1985 WAC Tournament was a pivotal moment in the conference’s basketball history, setting the stage for intense rivalries and NCAA Tournament appearances. It also reflected broader trends in college basketball, such as the growing importance of conference tournaments in shaping postseason opportunities.

• Utah’s NCAA bid: Utah’s victory earned them a spot in the 1985 NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to Michigan.
• Rivalry development: The Utah-UTEP final intensified the growing rivalry between the two programs, which continued throughout the decade.
• BYU’s rise: Though BYU lost in the semifinals, they would win the next two WAC titles in 1986 and 1987, establishing dominance.
• High-altitude impact: Playing in Laramie, at over 7,200 feet elevation, gave Wyoming a distinct home-court advantage that influenced game outcomes.
• Conference structure: The WAC’s six-team format allowed all members to participate, ensuring broad competitive inclusion.
• Historical context: The 1985 tournament occurred before major conference realignments, preserving a version of the WAC that would later expand and shift.

The 1985 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament remains a significant chapter in Western Athletic Conference history, illustrating the competitive balance and regional significance of mid-major college basketball during the 1980s.