SAN BRUNO, Calif. - A three-bid league in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship for the first time since 2022, No. 12-ranked Gonzaga, No. 22-ranked Saint Mary's and Santa Clara (receiving votes) are set to compete this week in the NCAA Tournament. West Coast Conference men's basketball features four teams in the postseason as Seattle U competes Tuesday night in the NIT.
West Coast Conference Is A Three-Bid League For First Time Since 2022
Three men’s basketball teams will compete in the NCAA Tournament in No. 3 seed Gonzaga, No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s and No. 10 seed Santa Clara. The West Coast Conference, the Big Ten, the Big 12, the SEC, the ACC and the Big East are the only conferences with at least three NCAA Tournament selections. This is the first time since 2022 (Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, San Francisco) and the fourth time in conference history (2022, 2012, 2008) the conference had three NCAA bids. In addition, Seattle U will compete in the NIT, facing St. Thomas (Minnesota) at 7 p.m. from the Redhawk Center.
In The Polls
Gonzaga is ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press poll and No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, while Saint Mary’s is ranked No. 22 in both polls and Santa Clara is receiving votes in both polls.
NCAA Tournament Broadcasts
On Thursday, No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s plays No. 10 seed Texas A&M at 4:35 PT on truTV from Oklahoma City, Okla. No. 3 seed Gonzaga plays No. 14 seed Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. PT on TBS from Portland, Ore. On Friday, No. 10 seed Santa Clara plays No. 7 seed Kentucky at 9:15 a.m. PT on CBS from St. Louis, Mo.
More Notes From Around The Coast
For a record seventh consecutive tournament and 12th time in the last 14 events, West Coast Conference men’s basketball teams earned multiple bids in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs will compete in the NCAA Tournament for the 27th consecutive season, the third-longest streak in the nation. Saint Mary’s earned an NCAA bid for a record fifth consecutive season. Santa Clara will compete in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are two of 15 Division I teams to compete in five straight NCAA Tournaments.
In the last seven NCAA Tournaments, 16 West Coast Conference teams have earned a berth and 14 have been the better seed in their opening game. A West Coast Conference team has reached the Sweet 16 in nine of the previous 10 tournaments.
The NABC announced its Division I all-district teams on Tuesday. In the Pacific district, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, Santa Clara’s Christian Hammond and Paulius Murauskas from Saint Mary’s were named to the first team. Second team honorees include Allen Graves and Elijah Mahi from Santa Clara. Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett was tabbed the Pacific District Coach of the Year.
The three West Coast Conference teams competing in the NCAA Tournament feature three head coaches all with over 550 Division I head coaching wins - Mark Few, Randy Bennett and Herb Sendek.
Gonzaga enters the NCAA Tournament with a top-20 scoring offense (No. 17, 85.1) and a top-20 scoring defense (No. 18, 66.0). Associated Press Third-Team All-American Graham Ike is the 2026 West Coast Conference scoring champion, averaging 19.7 ppg.
Saint Mary’s enters the NCAA Tournament with the No. 7 ranked scoring defense in the nation, allowing just 64.6 points per game. The Gaels also rank No. 1 in the nation in free throw shooting at 80.5 percent.
Santa Clara’s 26 wins tied for the second most wins in a season in program history. The program record is 27 set in 1968-69. West Coast Conference Freshman and Sixth Man of the Year Allen Graves averaged 11.6 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. Graves and Portland's Joel Foxwell are both finalists for the Kyle Macy Award, which goes to the top freshman in Division I men's basketball.
Seattle U will compete in the NIT after boasting a 20-win campaign. West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Will Heimbrodt is sixth in the nation in blocked shots at 2.56 bpg. Seattle U ranks No. 29 nationally in scoring defense, allowing 67.0 ppg.