Respect the danger that lesser WCC teams pose.

Mark Few and staff had been through the WCC for 2 decades before BYU entered the league, and understood its peculiarities thoroughly. It is a "skill" league with lesser athletes, yet can up and bite someone complacent on any given night. Hot shooters can beat you, even in March Madness.

It takes great concentration to focus, rather than disrespect. You cannot let up. Period.

A few years ago, the Zags were not anything like they are today. Nationwide they had gained the reputation of choking in March. There was a window when BYU actually could have taken over the league because of huge resources. But losing to the bottomfeeders, because of not having that experience, hindered it. Obvious in hindsight.

That was then, this is now. I think that the message finally has sunken in.  It's not the league, because other midmajor leagues feature similar danger.  It was the attitude, plus a system whose advantages did not translate all that well at sea level altitudes.