The Pacific Tigers are returning to their roots in the West Coast Conference. After a 42 year absence spending time in the PCAA/BIg West, the Stockton college will be rejoining the WCC.
Pacific has had decent success in the Big West, although not too many tournament appearances. Pacific made three straight tournament appearances from 2004-2006, managing two first round victories in consecutive seasons before falling in the second round of March Madness. After falling on tougher times, the WCC makes sense from a basketball standpoint.
The WCC will now have ten teams in the conference: Four of the original five members (Pacific, University of San Francisco, St. Mary's, Santa Clara University), two of the Los Angeles schools (Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, joined in 1955), two Northwest schools (Portland came on in 1976, Gonzaga arrived in 1979), with San Diego next up at 1979, and BYU (joined last season). All of the current WCC members are private schools that have religious roots.