(04-02-2018 05:29 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Indeed, since BYU joined they only have 3 Tournament appearances. Saint Mary's, screwed by the committee or not, only has 6 appearances under Bennett in 17 seasons. Add in the years he was snubbed, and it's 9-10. SMC only has 4 bids in the last decade. Gonzaga really has been carrying the load.

The ideal situation for Gonzaga is going to be to receive the backpay for the adjusted credit distribution, and then skip town. That is, if there isn't some monster deal in the works (like joining a P6 conference; unlikely), and they leave now.

Another thing to consider, and, who knows...maybe this is something Gonzaga anticipates and will see come to pass, and then use on its way out; what Gonzaga gets back from the conference in terms of distributions and what Gonzaga will now have to pay out of pocket to fill out its non-conference slate: the money won't add up.

For what the WCC is now and what it will be without Gonzaga, it makes a lot of sense to keep the conference schedule larger. Your schedule fills out, and you aren't spending out of your budget to fill out your calendar any more than the conference standard. I get that the gesture is huge to those who think this is a sign Gonzaga's a WCC-lifer; I doubt it's sustainable. And, really, do the math...you're going to see bad performers getting less money now but have to pay into a larger non-conference segment, and spend to participate in MTE's. That's not going to last. I do believe there are programs in the WCC that want to be more competitive. I believe, however, that others were just fine with the status-quo. And while some of these schools have deep pockets, none of them print money. Basketball won't dictate the course at these institutions.