(03-07-2018 11:43 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 10:24 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 12:10 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-06-2018 09:42 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  Watching the WCC champ game and ESPN Dick Vitale talked to GU AD and stated they will do what is best for GU and their brand. Said how everyone way coy and says neutral words, which means only one thing as we know from previous moves.....sounds like this could be a done deal already.

The latest article in the realignment news sources all but says this move is going to happen. A verbal agreement of acceptance.

Thompson however didn't think it was going to happen for 2018-19 because conference schedules had to be made by then.

I think his strategy here is to kick Gonzaga's name around in the media because that will put pressure on BYU to return to the fold. They may kick this one around for a year and bring both into the MWC for 2020.

No, it only says there have been discussions. No indication of a verbal agreement.

Still, Gonzaga may end up in the MWC. BYU will not though. As others have said, they consider it beneath them.

Depends. If BYU returning means "olympic sports only"---then sure. BYU already plays in an arguably "lesser" olympic league (especially if Gonzaga leaves for the MW)--So I'd see no reason why BYU wouldnt make that move.

However, if the MW says "all sports" or no sports (thier stated position when BYU originally went indy)--then yeah--BYU will think the MW is beneath them.

Fair enough. A non-FB membership, even with a ND-style FB scheduling agreement, puts the MWC in yet another awkward spot. They go from 11 members in non-FB sports to 13. I sincerely doubt they would add schools like St. Mary's (let alone GCU) to even out the membership.

BYU gets far more out of that deal than the MWC does, though. I think the MWC pushes for all sports or none. I still see it as unlikely that BYU would "stoop" to that. But if they did, then lucky day for a filler C-USA Texas school. NMSU is bandied about as MWC filler, but they don't offer enough value. You might as well take UTEP if you're going for the El Paso area.