The only real option for a much stronger basketball conference would be to create a new conference. Take the MWC and add BYU, Gonzaga, St Mary's and maybe San Francisco for all sports but Football. BYU remains independent in football with a scheduling agreement for the new conference football members.

Replacing the smaller gym and small markets with the likes of SDSU, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico, Fresno State, CSU, etc would be a nice upgrade. It would be a really nice west coast basketball conference with some really nice markets. Not sure if Gonzaga or St Mary's are frustrated enough to abandon decades of affiliation with the WCC.

It would be a nice upgrade that could treat BYU well. SDSU, UNLV and New Mexico are true basketball powers with nice fan bases and big arenas. That conference could get 4 or 5 bids a year.