If you recruit well enough and win the games on your schedule, NCAA hoops will allow the basketball program every opportunity for high level success in the tourney, which is the ultimate measuring stick in hoops. It is about the tourney, not the regular season as much.
Win a WCC tourney needs to be the next achievement. Get to the Sweet 16. The WCC schedule, plus non-conference does not prevent it.
Basketball offers a path in a way football doesn't.