What Is 2013 WAC men's basketball tournament

Overview

The 2013 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men's basketball tournament concluded the 2012–13 conference season and determined which team would receive the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It featured the top eight teams in the conference standings based on regular-season performance.

Hosted at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, the single-elimination tournament spanned four days and followed a standard bracket format. New Mexico State emerged as champions, securing their second consecutive WAC tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.

• New Mexico State entered as the top seed after finishing the regular season with a 12–2 conference record and 25–6 overall.
• The tournament included eight teams, seeded 1 through 8 based on their final WAC standings, with no play-in games.
• March 13–16, 2013 marked the official dates of the event, beginning with quarterfinals and culminating in the championship on March 16.
• Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, served as the neutral-site host, a venue the WAC used from 2011 to 2013.
• Steve Alford, then head coach of New Mexico State, led the Aggies to the title before departing for UCLA shortly after the tournament.

How It Works

The WAC men's basketball tournament format in 2013 followed a structured single-elimination model designed to crown a conference champion and NCAA qualifier. Teams qualified based on regular-season conference records, with seeding determining matchups.

• Format: The tournament used a single-elimination bracket with eight teams, meaning one loss eliminated a team from contention.
• Seeding: Teams were seeded 1 to 8 based on their win-loss records in WAC conference play, with tiebreakers applied as needed.
• Bracket Structure: The tournament featured quarterfinals, semifinals, and a championship game, all held consecutively over four days.
• Location: The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas hosted the event from 2011 to 2013, providing a centralized, neutral venue for all teams.
• NCAA Bid: The winner received the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, regardless of at-large consideration.
• Game Rules: All games followed standard NCAA regulations, including 40-minute games, shot clocks, and overtime if necessary.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2013 WAC tournament can be better understood by comparing it to prior editions in terms of structure, participants, and outcomes.

This table shows consistent use of the Orleans Arena through 2015 and New Mexico State’s dominance, winning three titles between 2012 and 2014. The close scores in 2013 and 2014 indicate competitive matchups, while Utah State and Seattle also emerged as key programs in the decade.

Why It Matters

The 2013 WAC tournament had lasting implications for member schools, conference realignment, and NCAA Tournament representation. It highlighted the shifting landscape of mid-major college basketball during a period of significant conference turnover.

• New Mexico State strengthened its national profile by winning back-to-back titles, earning NCAA Tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013.
• The WAC lost multiple members after 2013, including New Mexico State, which became an independent before joining the Sun Belt.
• Liberty’s runner-up finish was notable as the Flames were in their final WAC season before moving to the Big South Conference.
• The tournament underscored the instability of the WAC, which dropped below the seven-school minimum for an automatic NCAA bid by 2014.
• Steve Alford’s departure to UCLA immediately after the win highlighted how mid-major success could launch coaching careers to Power Five programs.
• The event marked the third consecutive year the WAC used a neutral site, a strategy later abandoned due to declining membership and competitiveness.

Ultimately, the 2013 WAC tournament served as both a climax for a competitive season and a turning point in the conference’s history, reflecting broader trends in college basketball realignment and postseason access.