What Is 2020 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 2020 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament marked a historic and abrupt end to the conference season due to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Originally scheduled to run from March 11 to March 14 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, the event was canceled on March 12 after just two rounds of play, as sports leagues across the U.S. suspended operations.

This cancellation occurred amid rapidly evolving public health concerns and coincided with the NCAA’s decision to cancel all winter and spring championships. The WAC tournament, which determines the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament, was left incomplete, leaving unresolved questions about postseason eligibility and conference recognition.

• New Mexico State entered as the top seed with a 14–2 conference record and was defending champion from 2019, aiming for its fifth title in seven years.
• Grand Canyon University was the second seed with a 12–4 conference record and was making its deepest postseason push in program history.
• The tournament format included eight teams, with seeds 5 through 8 playing in the first round on March 11, followed by quarterfinals on March 12.
• Seattle U and UT Arlington were eliminated in the first round, while Stephen F. Austin and California Baptist also failed to advance past the initial stage.
• Games were played at the Orleans Arena, a 9,500-seat venue in Las Vegas, which has hosted the WAC tournament since 2011, except for 2020 due to the cancellation.

How It Works

The WAC Men's Basketball Tournament follows a standard single-elimination format, designed to crown a conference champion and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Below are key components that define how the tournament operates and how the 2020 edition was structured before cancellation.

• Single-Elimination Format: Teams compete in a knockout style; a loss eliminates them. In 2020, only the first round and one quarterfinal were completed before the shutdown.
• Seeding: Based on regular-season conference records, the top eight teams qualify. In 2020, New Mexico State was seeded #1 with a 14–2 record.
• Host Site: Since 2011, the tournament has been held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, providing a neutral site and centralized location for fans and teams.
• NCAA Bid: The winner receives an automatic qualification to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, a major incentive for mid-major programs like those in the WAC.
• Game Schedule: The 2020 tournament was set for four days, March 11–14, with games progressing from first round to championship on Saturday.
• Co-Champions Declaration: In an unprecedented move, the WAC later named New Mexico State and Grand Canyon as co-champions after the cancellation, though no official title game was played.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2020 WAC Tournament with the 2019 and 2021 editions to highlight the impact of the cancellation and subsequent recovery.

The 2020 tournament stands out as the only one in recent history to be canceled mid-event. While 2021 returned to normal operations with safety protocols, 2020 disrupted player eligibility, fan engagement, and postseason planning for all eight participating schools.

Why It Matters

The cancellation of the 2020 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament had far-reaching consequences for student-athletes, institutions, and the broader sports landscape, symbolizing the moment when the pandemic halted live sports across America. Its impact extended beyond basketball, influencing how conferences approach contingency planning and crisis management.

• End of Season Uncertainty: Players on teams like Stephen F. Austin and Seattle U had no closure, with seniors leaving without a final game.
• Financial Loss: The WAC and Orleans Arena lost revenue from tickets, broadcasting, and sponsorships, estimated at over $1 million in direct event income.
• NCAA Tournament Absence: The WAC had no representative in the 2020 NCAA Tournament, breaking a streak of automatic bids awarded to its champion.
• Precedent for Cancellations: The WAC’s decision mirrored the NBA, NCAA, and NHL, setting a national standard for sports shutdowns during health crises.
• Co-Champion Decision: The move to name co-champions was rare and sparked debate about fairness and tradition in college athletics.
• Legacy of 2020: The event is now remembered not for on-court action, but as a marker of the pandemic’s sudden disruption to college sports.

The 2020 WAC Tournament remains a poignant example of how external forces can reshape sports history. While no champion was crowned on the court, its legacy endures in policy changes, health protocols, and the resilience of student-athletes who adapted to unprecedented challenges.