Well, FWIW, i think the WCC has proven it is pulling ahead of the MWC, starting 2 years ago with the comparative post season performances, then last year across the board.

But the perception problem for the WCC has more to do with the fact the that member institutions are mostly small undergraduate colleges rather than great research graduate universities. This is mostly all below the surface so you might find few here who agree with me on this and it really doesn't matter because whatever the reason, BYU's athletic community wants to be accepted by those big research universities and might even rejoin the MWC if a better option does not become available if the MWC will compromise on BYUtv.

So while the WCC has many institutions with a nice basketball tradition including GU, USF, Santa CLara, St Mary's, LMU, and Pacific, and they have programs that are likely to continue to improve, it won't satisfy BYU's community if the WCC advances 2 teams to the elite 8, wins the NIT the CBI in each of the next three years. The critics will find some cause to fight for a move.

For the record, i like BYU in the WCC, the cultural and religious shared values, and the reduced religious hostility. My hope is that BYU stays where they are. But i heard the BYU AD speak rather openly that if the terms are right for BYUtv and they can get religious accommodation, BYU would go to a P5 if invited. The PAC 12 Presidents don't want BYU on academic grounds so the BIg 12 looks like the only realistic possibility. It may be a long shot for anytime in this decade.