More games on campuses in front of partisan fans. Better tip-off times. A final four with tremendous facilities. All with a trip the NAIA nationals at stake. That's what the new Cal Pac men's and women's basketball tournament format has to offer.The top eight teams from the regular season still advance to the tournament, but the first two rounds will be played at the home site of the higher seed, Commissioner Don Ott announced.

"The new format is only a slight administrative adjustment," Ott said, "but it's a slight adjustment with huge ramifications on the regular season and championship."

The men's and women's teams will continue to follow the same format, with the semifinals and championship taking place at Cal State East Bay on February 27 and 28th.

Opening round action will feature the #8 seed visiting the #5 seed, and the #7 seed traveling to the #6 seed on the evening of Tuesday, February 24.

The winning teams advance to play at the #4 seed (the winner of the #5/8 contest) and at #3 (victor of the #6/7 game) on Wednesday, February 25.

Those winners will move on to Hayward, Calif., to face the #1 and #2 seeds, who receive a bye into the semifinals.

"This format rewards the regular season performance of the higher seeded teams," Ott said. "It also gives our student-athletes another opportunity for a home game with outstanding crowd support in the early rounds."