How would BYU's football independence impact hoops

While today’s rumors and reports have mostly been about how BYU’s rumored move to independence in football would benefit or not benefit BYU’s football program, lost in the conversation is the effect such a move would have on BYU’s strong and promising basketball program. Frankly, under coach Dave Rose, Cougar hoops are every bit as prominent on the national stage as football. And as far as the coming season, hoops is more promising for sure. This year’s team is capable of surpassing last year’s NCAA Tournament success. Maybe a Sweet 16 trip. Because BYU is not talking on the rumors, there’s no way of really knowing what basketball coach Dave Rose thinks about the potential move. And I won’t try to put words in Rose’s mouth. But I can tell you, from my perspective, even had Nevada and Fresno State remained in the WAC, I think the rumored move to the WAC in basketball would have been a move slightly backward. The WAC of old simply did not have the national respect enjoyed by the MWC of recent. A conference with San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico and Utah has more national respect than a conference with basketball powers of Nevada, New Mexico State, Utah State and Louisiana Tech. Yes, Utah State and BYU games are close and thrilling, and even more so should they both be in the same conference. But overall, the WAC is a weaker basketball conference than the MWC. Now that Fresno State and Nevada are joining the MWC, the WAC is even weaker and the MWC even stronger. So, in a nutshell, if BYU still does as rumored, and becomes independent for football and joins the WAC for other sports, especially now that the WAC is wounded, it’s a step in the wrong direction for Dave Rose’s desire for BYU to get more respect when the NCAA Tournament Committee hands out tournament seeds every March. Unless Rose could put together a ridiculously tough non-conference schedule, and the Cougars win with such a schedule, No. 9 seeds or worse are all the Cougars could expect as a member of the WAC. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. Maybe Rose can paint me a Rosier picture of how a move to the WAC would be better for the Cougars. I guess all we can do is stay tuned for whenever BYU officials decide to let us in on what they’re thinking.
There are a few other interesting twists to the potential changes in both the MWC and WAC. What if the depleted WAC decides to raid the Big West for basketball schools? The Big West has bylaws that say only California schools can be members, but if it loses some key members, look for the Big West to give Southern Utah and even Utah Valley University a good hard look. You can bet that both Southern Utah and UVU officials would love to be members of the Big West. And let’s not forget Utah State. The loss of Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada is crippling to the Aggies. Their best hope now is for the MWC to come calling. Honestly, it should.