📍 San Diego, California
🏀 Home of San Diego Toreros basketball

Across college hoops, the national limelight often settles on the power conferences. But among the 31 basketball circuits that make up NCAA Division I, none do it quite like the West Coast Conference. Comprised of nine faith-based institutions, the conference headliners include both historical giants and modern-day powerhouses. The WCC’s soul is defined by intimate basketball settings, electrified annually by top-10 competition. Marking the league’s southern border is the University of San Diego, whose Toreros compete across 17 varsity sports.

The Jenny Craig Pavilion opened at the turn of the century, replacing the aging USD Sports Center after almost four decades. Blended magnificently into the school’s Spanish Colonial Revival theme, the arena bears the name of weight-loss entrepreneur Jenny Craig. Thanks to her generous $10 million gift, the university was able to pay for the construction of the “Slim Gym.” Since 2000, the JCP has served as home court for San Diego men’s and women’s basketball, as well as the women’s volleyball program.

Tucked into the quaint hillside campus, Jenny Craig Pavilion shares Pardee Courtyard with Torero Stadium next door. The space transforms into a pregame entertainment hub on game days, attracting delicious local food trucks, complete with live music and games. While most fanbases bundle up for a frigid walk to the game, the Torero faithful take advantage of the region’s Mediterranean climate, soaking up pregame golden hour – even in the heart of winter. As game time approaches, fans enter through the Chet and Marguerite Pagni Athletic Hall of Fame, which pays homage to Torero legends like Kris Bryant of Cubs fame and the NBA’s A.J. Griffin.

Although crowds rarely swell to the pavilion’s 5,100-seat capacity, the Slim Gym can be ear-piercing in crunch time – particularly when the Toreros have a ranked opponent on the ropes. The octagonal seating bowl amplifies noise back toward center court, testing the poise of WCC opponents in a barnburner. The “Bull Pit” section houses USD students on court-level risers, a menacing second-half backdrop for opponents. When the kids show out, Jenny Craig oozes with trap game potential, an unexpected challenge for top teams overlooking the Toreros.

The venue hosted three consecutive WCC men’s basketball championships from 2001 to 2003, during which the Toreros captured the West Coast crown on its home floor with a win over Gonzaga. The WCC title game returned in 2008, where the Toreros defeated the ‘Zags once more and punched their ticket to the Big Dance. It remains their last taste of March Madness to date, freezing their tournament total at nine.

Over its first quarter-century, Jenny Craig Pavilion has had its memorable moments. It’s peaked with the Toreros both celebrating a WCC title and upsetting juggernauts like Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, showing glimpses of its potential. However, if the building aims to reach its ceiling as a basketball arena, the Toreros must flip the script on the court. Sustained success has been elusive, and it’s not getting easier to compete in the West Coast Conference. Challenges aside, perhaps there’s reason for optimism at USD. Financially, the school has the resources to navigate today’s landscape of college athletics. Perhaps patience will pay off, and head coach Steve Lavin – an accomplished basketball mind – will see through the rebuild. If the program can find some consistency, San Diego’s best days on the hardwood may still lie ahead.