(03-21-2017 01:07 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote: If the AAC invites Wichita State then the MWC inviting Gonzaga would be a compelling strategic countermove. MWC basketball has been down a bit recently but even so membership in the conference would offer the Zags an opportunity to compete with programs that have higher profiles, more fan support and better facilities than most of Gonzaga's WCC opponents. Plus the move would have the side benefit of ramping up the pressure on BYU to return. The Cougars could opt for the AAC as an alternative but the travel would be much tougher on their players and fans.
I doubt BYU would move to the AAC because that means they gave in to moving all sports including football to a G5 conference with Utah in the PAC-12.
BYU would have to stay in the WCC unless they bring their football program into the MW or AAC.
This could be an intriguing move if the MW and Gonzaga do make a move. Hawaii will always be an affiliate member in football and rests in a decent conference that only has to travel basically to LA for all other sports.
Gonzaga has no intention of playing football, so the MW doesn't have to worry about a start up program for football (Although, I wouldn't mind if they did as that gives the MW a presence in Washington.
BYU is stuck in the WCC unless they move the football to a G5 conference. Maybe BYU could win a WCC title then.
If it does pressure BYU (highly unlikely) to join the MW, then UTEP could round out the conference. If not then MW is just fine with 12 football and then 12 basketball.
**The other big caveat is what happens to the men's soccer team? GU is a powerhouse soccer school and the WCC is a powerhouse soccer conference. With Gonzaga, the MW would have enough schools (6) to have a championship in that sport. The MW would then have SJSU, SDSU, NM, AF, UNLV & GU. NM would have to leave CUSA. SJSU, UNLV and AF the WAC and SDSU the PAC-12.
On that end, I wonder if the PAC-12 would want to bring in the MW schools in then to have 10 or 11 teams.
If fact with the PAC only have 5 schools plus SDSU, I wonder why they haven't brought in SJSU, UNLV, AF and NM to get a nice 10 team conference.