I read the Deseret article which featured the commish's reasons for it. (Mainly PR push by ESPN that other mid-majors do not have. Plus past tickets sell-outs.) Well, the latter makes no sense this year.

Let's get real. There are only two teams which have any hope of winning a first-round game or more. GU. BYU. How awful would it be if COVID reared its head in Vegas, depriving either of those two of their first-round games? Just so that St. Mary's, USF, or etc. might have longshot chance at a bid? And so the commish can preen for a week?

The Zags are guaranteed and the Cougars nearly so. Give them those 10+ off-days to hunker down and to save their viability for meaningful games in March Madness.