Last year the Honda Center and the Big West Conference agreed to a five-year partnership that starts in 2011. The 17,600 seat arena will host the return to the Big West Tournament format last utilized in 2003.

As stated in the release from BigWest.org:

“The top eight men’s and women’s teams in the final regular season standings will compete in a traditionally seeded format (#1 vs. #8, #2 vs. #7, #3 vs. #6, #4 vs. #5)”

Most major conferences have pre-determined byes in the conference tournament.  The bottom line is that this format makes more games which means more tickets for sale.  It will now take three wins on three consecutive nights to take the Big West and NCAA birth, no matter your seed.

“The women’s tournament will begin with four quarterfinal games on the campus sites of the top four seeded teams on Tuesday, March 8.  The semifinals and finals will be at Honda Center on Friday and Saturday.”

This is a great idea.  With the men’s and women’s tournaments in the same building, the women’s games are in the early afternoon.  This way, the top seeds get one more primetime game at home.

According to Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell: “The return to the traditionally seeded format will make it easier for the fans of our men’s teams to plan their attendance at the event well in advance, since all eight qualifying teams will be playing in the quarterfinals on Thursday, The women’s first round games will be able to be played in prime time in home arenas.  We anticipate the atmosphere at those games will be electric.”

With Reports From BigWest.org