Gonzaga to Mountain West?

[Dish]

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-gonzaga-mountain-west-sdsu-20180228-story.html

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

This paragraph made me laugh.

Adding those two schools (Gonzaga and BYU), and assuming San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico can return to their past levels, could elevate the Mountain West to the premier basketball conference in the western third of the country — at least on par if not ahead of the Pac-12.

[Galway Eagle]

This paragraph made me laugh.

Adding those two schools (Gonzaga and BYU), and assuming San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico can return to their past levels, could elevate the Mountain West to the premier basketball conference in the western third of the country — at least on par if not ahead of the Pac-12.

They realistically had a chance to get to that level that year where they got like 6 bids but now they're a joke.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

They realistically had a chance to get to that level that year where they got like 6 bids but now they're a joke.

It is a solid little conference.  I like it.  Adding BYU and Gonzaga would be homeruns (why not add St. Mary's too????), but to say it would elevate them above the Pac12 is silly.

[SaveOD238]

A conference that includes the..

#6- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (St. Mary's, San Jose St)
#12- Seattle (Gonzaga??)
#17- Denver (Colorado St)
#29- San Diego (SDSU)
#30- Salt Lake City (BYU and Utah St)
#40- Vegas (UNLV)
#46- Albuquerque-SantaFe (New Mexico)
#54- Fresno (Fresno St)
#72- Spokane (Gonzaga)
#104- Boise (Boise St)
#105- Reno (Nevada)

...media markets in the United States has a chance to be pretty decent.  The Pac 12 is usually the worst of the Big 6 conferences, but I don't think the MW could catch them.  However, I don't see any reason why a Mountain West that includes 6 or so traditionally decent teams (Gonzaga, St Mary's, BYU, New Mexico, UNLV) and a couple that go up and down (Nevada, Fresno, Boise, SDSU) couldn't at least be comparable to the American. 

If they really want to catch lightning in a bottle, the trick is to look for the next up-and-coming team in a big market, like Grand Canyon U in Phoenix.

[Mr. Nielsen]

It is a solid little conference.  I like it.  Adding BYU and Gonzaga would be homeruns (why not add St. Mary's too????), but to say it would elevate them above the Pac12 is silly.

Don't tell Bill Walton that. Conference of Champions. No truck stops here.

[Galway Eagle]

It is a solid little conference.  I like it.  Adding BYU and Gonzaga would be homeruns (why not add St. Mary's too????), but to say it would elevate them above the Pac12 is silly.

The year I was referring to was 2013 the MWC was the no3 RPI and sent 5 teams to the tournament. They were head and shoulders above the pac 12

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

The year I was referring to was 2013 the MWC was the no3 RPI and sent 5 teams to the tournament. They were head and shoulders above the pac 12

Right.  For one season.  I could see this new version of the MWC being better than the P12 a couple two three times a decade, but not consistently.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Best case scenario would be the AAC of the west.

[GoldenWarrior11]

This would be a great move for Gonzaga.  They were never going to be seriously considered for the Big East, despite institutional and men's basketball-fit, due to location.  Going to the MWC allows them to play in actual arenas, instead of tiny West Coast gyms.  If BYU comes along, it is a grand slam.  Feel bad for St. Mary's, as they will unlikely be asked to join because they don't bring much.  I would anticipate the WCC replacing Gonzaga for Seattle (whom Gonzaga has intentionally kept out of the league for many seasons). 

[GooooMarquette]

A conference that includes the..

#6- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (St. Mary's, San Jose St)
#12- Seattle (Gonzaga??)
#17- Denver (Colorado St)
#29- San Diego (SDSU)
#30- Salt Lake City (BYU and Utah St)
#40- Vegas (UNLV)
#46- Albuquerque-SantaFe (New Mexico)
#54- Fresno (Fresno St)
#72- Spokane (Gonzaga)
#104- Boise (Boise St)
#105- Reno (Nevada)

...media markets in the United States has a chance to be pretty decent.  The Pac 12 is usually the worst of the Big 6 conferences, but I don't think the MW could catch them.  However, I don't see any reason why a Mountain West that includes 6 or so traditionally decent teams (Gonzaga, St Mary's, BYU, New Mexico, UNLV) and a couple that go up and down (Nevada, Fresno, Boise, SDSU) couldn't at least be comparable to the American. 

If they really want to catch lightning in a bottle, the trick is to look for the next up-and-coming team in a big market, like Grand Canyon U in Phoenix.

I know the Zags have been awfully good, but do they really get hometown media coverage in Seattle?  Gonzaga is a small private school and Seattle is 279 miles away.  For comparison, that's virtually identical to the distance between Milwaukee and Indianapolis.

Private schools typically don't get hometown coverage just by virtue of being in the same state as a distant large city.

[Herman Cain]

Pac 12 Schools are all highly desirable and iconic campuses. Not every kid is a one and done. Most play all 4 years so the school setting actually matters.  That is why those programs over time are going to consistently outperform Mountain West . It is possible that the Mountain West as proposed to be reconstituted with Gonzaga and BYU , could have some peak performance years. However, on a consistent basis they would still be a lesser entity. The other problem they have is the ability to retain good coaches long term. The dollars that the Power conferences can pay are just too big for most up and coming coaches to turn down. At the end of the day, ESPN will drive the decision as to whether Gonzage moves. if they put enough dollars into the Mountain West TV deal it will likely happen.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Keep in mind CBSSN also has the Mountain West TV as well.

[cnse70]

I know the Zags have been awfully good, but do they really get hometown media coverage in Seattle?  Gonzaga is a small private school and Seattle is 279 miles away.  For comparison, that's virtually identical to the distance between Milwaukee and Indianapolis.

Private schools typically don't get hometown coverage just by virtue of being in the same state as a distant large city.

You are correct.....Seattle is all about UW.  Spokane is a few miles from Idaho and there is not a ton of Zag run in Seattle.

SDSU will be back.  You add the Zaga (and St. Mary's) to go along with Nevada, UNLV, BYU.....not the BE, but not a conference to laugh at.

[GGGG]

I'm not sure they would take St. Mary's.  They really haven't done all that much when compared to Gonzaga.

[PJDunn]

Pac 12 Schools are all highly desirable and iconic campuses. Not every kid is a one and done. Most play all 4 years so the school setting actually matters.  That is why those programs over time are going to consistently outperform Mountain West . It is possible that the Mountain West as proposed to be reconstituted with Gonzaga and BYU , could have some peak performance years. However, on a consistent basis they would still be a lesser entity. The other problem they have is the ability to retain good coaches long term. The dollars that the Power conferences can pay are just too big for most up and coming coaches to turn down. At the end of the day, ESPN will drive the decision as to whether Gonzage moves. if they put enough dollars into the Mountain West TV deal it will likely happen.


The U of Washington is Seattle.  Gonzaga has plenty of fans in the Puget Sound, but they are firmly Spokane.

[Dawson Rental]

If Gonzaga and St. Mary's leave the WCC, it would open up a chance for DePaul to join a conference where they could compete for the upper echelon!

[dgies9156]

You are correct.....Seattle is all about UW.  Spokane is a few miles from Idaho and there is not a ton of Zag run in Seattle.

Not even sure Gonzaga is the number one team in Spokane, much less Seattle. Have any of you heard of Washington State in relatively nearby Pullman?

The locals sure have.

[SaveOD238]

I'm not sure they would take St. Mary's.  They really haven't done all that much when compared to Gonzaga.

They're in the tournament just about every year and they are in the San Francisco market.  That matters.

[source?]

They're in the tournament just about every year and they are in the San Francisco market.  That matters.

"Just about every year"=9 tournament appearances...ever?

[GooooMarquette]

"Just about every year"=9 tournament appearances...ever?

Seems to be a good example of recency bias. 6 of their 9 appearances have been since Y2K.

[GGGG]

And while they are *in* the San Francisco market, they really don't draw eyeballs in that market.  That would be like adding Fordham to get the NYC market?  How did that work out for the A10?

[mikekinsellaMVP]

Not even sure Gonzaga is the number one team in Spokane, much less Seattle. Have any of you heard of Washington State in relatively nearby Pullman?

The locals sure have.

lol

[cnse70]

They're in the tournament just about every year and they are in the San Francisco market.  That matters.

While I think SMC is a nice little basketball school and an upgrade over the dregs of the MWC, did not think anyone in the bay area cares.  Technically, it is not very far by miles, but the Moraga Valley feels more like Iowa (with mountains) then is does SF/OAK/SJ. 

[79Warrior]

And while they are *in* the San Francisco market, they really don't draw eyeballs in that market.  That would be like adding Fordham to get the NYC market?  How did that work out for the A10?

What? San Francisco market? Seriously.