USD men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin welcomed the news that UC San Diego will be joining his Toreros in the West Coast Conference starting in the 2027-28 season.

The addition of the Tritons creates a true crosstown rivalry for a pair of programs separated only by a short drive on Interstate 5.

Now USD, UCSD, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine and possibly UC Santa Barbara or another current Big West Conference school can create a unique Southern California pod of rivals in a new-look WCC, which is losing standard-bearer Gonzaga next summer and could also reportedly lose longtime stalwart St. Mary’s.

“UC San Diego is a terrific addition to the WCC,” Lavin said. “The strong academic pedigree of that university, recent basketball success and being located in America’s Finest City makes the T

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