DENVER - The Western Athletic Conferences Board of Directors has approved the University of Tulsa as the site of the leagues men and womens basketball tournament but stopped short of determining the site for the 2003 tournament.
The action came during the Boards annual meeting in Carmel, California. The 2002 tournament will be held from March 5-9, and a decision on future sites was delayed pending further study.
In part, the decision to go to Tulsa was based upon a recommendation the WAC Council made at its May meeting, said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. The fact that the 2001 tournament was successful in Tulsa also contributed to the decision.
But the Board also felt that there were additional factors that needed to be studied before a site beyond the 2001-2002 season could be determined.
The Board also elected San Jose State President Dr. Robert Caret chairman for the 2001-2002 year and took the following additional action:
1. Approved the formation of a subcommittee to examine possible methods of distributing revenue from a new NCAA fund beginning in 2003.
2. Approved the formation of a cost containment subcommittee to examine expense related to regular season conference play.
3. Approved a recommendation that all 10 teams participate in the WAC Volleyball Tournament.
4. Approved a recommendation that the regular season playing days for women s basketball be changed from Friday and Sunday to Thursday and Saturday with the exception of the first week of the season.
5. Approved a recommendation to invite Sacramento State as an affiliate member in softball beginning with the 2003 season.
6. Approved dates and sites for the 2001-2002 conference men and womens championships.