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Gonzaga Considering Leaving WCC To Join Mountain West Conference

Gonzaga has given the other WCC schools financial shares from its 19 straight trips to the NCAA TournamentGETTY IMAGES

Gonzaga AD Mike Roth yesterday confirmed that the school has "had discussions with the Mountain West Conference" about potential expansion, according to Jim Meehan of the Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. Roth said, “I’ve had discussions with the Mountain West, but I’ve also had discussions with other conference commissioners and (ADs) around the country. That’s what I’ve been doing to monitor what is our situation and where are things? Where do we stand?” Meehan notes the West Coast Conference, in which Gonzaga currently plays, is a "collection of 10 largely private, faith-based schools that don’t offer football with the exception of BYU, an independent, and San Diego, which plays" at the FCS level (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 3/1).

BETTER OPPORTUNITIES? MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson also said that he has "held discussions with Gonzaga" about leaving the WCC, "perhaps as "early as next season." Thompson said, “The adjective I’d use is exploratory. Truthfully, what we’re trying to do here is better ourselves and we’re trying to understand what are your goals and ambitions, and what are the Mountain West’s goals and ambitions. Is there something there? ... But obviously, they would enhance our basketball enterprise.” Thompson also said that BYU was "not among the other schools that have contacted him about expansion." But in San Diego, Mark Zeigler notes cites sources as saying that BYU would "consider a return" to the MWC -- "at least in basketball if Gonzaga joins." The issue is "expected to be a topic" when WCC ADs and presidents "gather at the conference basketball tournament later this week in Las Vegas." It is an "open secret that Gonzaga has become increasingly frustrated in the WCC, in a sense subsidizing the rest of the conference with financial shares from its 19 straight trips" to the NCAA Tournament. Sources said that Gonzaga coach Mark Few is "involved" in the MWC discussions and "intrigued by the possibility, particularly if BYU follows" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/1).

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