(01-01-2021 03:30 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 03:00 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(12-31-2020 03:29 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  In my opinion, the league is perfectly positioned for a growth spurt. What do they gain? Greater notoriety in their own sphere, but adding a few more stalwart programs could really give them some attention back East beyond just everyone tuning in for Gonzaga. Boise State basketball has been getting better and they're a recognizable brand. San Diego State would be in the same category...assuming there's a way to get them into the AAC as well for a football deal. What if Seattle could be talked into going back?

The WCC is in a position to become a more recognizable force in basketball.

Boise State is a football brand, not a basketball brand. Boise State brings nothing to the WCC. In November of 2018, they lost at home to Idaho State in basketball, 72-70. They paid Idaho State $90,000 to drive down to Boise and take their money and a win. Four days earlier, Idaho State lost at Gonzaga, 120-79.

Gonzaga has not played Boise State in basketball in 20 years. They do not have much in common. Gonzaga is private and has a better academic reputation. Gonzaga does not play football. Boise State does not have a men’s soccer or baseball team, a couple of important sports in an Olympic sports league.

Boise State has lost at least one game to each conference in the west over the past two seasons. Gonzaga is great in basketball. Boise State is okay. There are much better candidates in the west than Boise State if the WCC is interested in expansion.

Boise would probably be the third or 4th best program in the WCC if they joined. Zags, BYU, and St Marys would all be considered better. In fact, I suspect Boise would be in the top 3 depending on the year. Boise is 6-1 this year including a win over a 9-2 BYU team. Boise has won 20 games a year every season but one since 2012. Boise would be a solid upper tier addition to the WCC. So, the Boise program would be a nice addition for the WCC---the problem is--as others have mentioned---Boise isnt really a great institutional fit.

That said, the idea of adding solid quality upper tier depth to the WCC while subtracting quality basketball depth from the MW might have a certain amount of appeal to WCC members who remember that the MW made a run at poaching Zags just a couple of years ago. That failed poaching attempt ended up costing every member (other than Zags) money. Those other members basically had to give Gonzaga a "special deal" that awarded Zags a larger cut of conference revenue. Its not impossible that those same schools might enjoy sticking it to the MW. My guess is that Boise will not get a WCC invite---but there are reasons to think its not completely out of the question Boise might find a home there.

https://apnews.com/article/275680042f9e4...4fbca0ff10

True. The WCC is currently #9 in the Massey Composite, just ahead of the MWC (#10), and not too far behind the (#6) PAC-12.

#6 PAC
#7 AAC
#8 A-10
#9 WCC
#10 MWC

If Boise were to move to the WCC - as unlikely as it might be - the WCC would be able to establish itself as the #2 western BB conference and to become more competitive with the PAC., which would in turn help to give the WCC's viewership a boost.

Regardless, the addition of one or two good basketball schools could give them the WCC an opportunity to compete for the #8 spot with the A-10.