In the article linked below regarding basketball coaching changes, ESPN split the school list into "Power conferences" and "Traditional one-bid conferences."

Conferences with schools appearing on the "power" list: SEC, PAC, B1G, AAC, MWC, and A-10. Conferences without schools on any list that would fall under this label: ACC, XII, and Big East.

On another note, conferences with schools on the "traditional one-bid" list include the WCC which surprised me a little. I'm obviously a bit biased as a Zags fan, but the WCC had multiple bids (several 3-bid seasons) 17 times (12 since 2000). The consistency didn't really begin until about 2000. I'm not saying the WCC is a "power conference," but I would group them in a "mid-major" 2nd tier that does not include clear power conferences or consistently one-bid conferences.

I would think if someone asked for a list of the 9 best basketball conferences, it would include the PAC, B1G, XII, SEC, ACC, Big East, AAC, MWC, and A-10. Perhaps #10 would be the WCC but maybe not.

You bring up a good point. Technically, the WCC has multiple national titles under their belt with USF. Gonzaga has sort of resurrected the league as its torch bearer for the last 20 years.

Without looking it up, how many multiple bids were created by Gonzaga being upset in the conference tourney title game? It’s probably not that large of a number, because I seem to remember the Zags winning most of the WCC tourneys. This means that St. Mary’s or BYU were able to gain at-large bids within the last ten years. I feel like San Diego may have made a Dance appearance at some point too.

The lack of parity in the WCC is what separates it from the current A-10 and MWC. In those leagues, almost any team can win any given year. There are three teams in the WCC that have a legit chance, and that’s assuming BYU is up to par. It is more similar to the PCC when UNLV was a member, but a bit stronger than the Rebs former home. In the PCC, it was NMSU nipping at their heels not unlike St. Mary’s.

C-USA has fallen on hard times and has essentially been replaced by the American. Instead of Louisville, Cincinnati, and Memphis, the American has UConn, Cincinnati, and Memphis. Houston was a member of both leagues as well.

The MVC is another that has suffered the attrition of realignment. They have been a traditionally strong conference from top to bottom for years until recently. I would now put the MVC and C-USA behind the WCC.

MAC: Elite players play here.