Surprised MWC doesn't seriously consider adding UC San Diego for its market size & all-around conference potential

[Aztecjeff]

That school could quickly increase the size of its basketball arena (which typically follows the success of a program), plus how can anyone ignore their enrollment of 43,381 students & the $1.36 Billion endowment?  Lastly, how could you not pull for their cool-headed basketball Coach Eric Olen & his 22-4 record (including that huge out-of-conference win "at" Utah State)?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YYUX8SlzV8

 

[Aztecjeff]

UCSD is now leading the Big West with an overall record of 26-4 (16-2 in conference), and it's their first year of eligibility to play in the Big Dance! 

If the MWC also added UC Irvine (25-5/15-3) along with UC San Diego, they could not only recapture some of the San Diego television market they'll be losing next year... but could also add a decent portion of the Orange County/Los Angeles television market to their conference lineup.  Add a requirement that "both" schools increase the capacities of their basketball arenas/gyms to an agreed upon minimum size within the first 3-4 years of membership.  UCSD & UCI may seem like small fish in large ponds at the moment, but what cannot be overlooked are their respective Southern California television markets... something I'd definitely tap into if I was Commissioner of the MWC.

Keep in mind, when it comes to basketball & Olympic sports, schools within a television market are on a "more even" playing field than they are in football... as these sports can be played at anytime on any given day of the week (vs. primarily on only one day of the week:  Saturday).  Plus, there isn't as much domination within these sports as there is in football.  Anyone can beat anybody on any given day of the week.             

[Aztecjeff]

UCSD Men's Basketball won "both" the 2025 Big West Regular Season Championship & the 2025 Big West Tournament Championship with an overall final season ending record of 30-4.  The team is also headed to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in their "first" full year of Division I membership:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/15/tri-mendous-uc-san-diego-men-headed-to-first-ever-ncaa-tournament/

 

UCSD Women's Basketball won the 2025 Big West Tournament Championship with a season ending record of 19-7 and is also headed to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in their "first" full year of Division I membership:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/15/this-is-your-legacy-ucsd-women-win-big-west-earn-ncaa-tournament-invite/

 

UCSD is suddenly a new force to reckoned with in Division 1 Athletics... not only throughout the Big West Conference, but nationally.  The MWC doesn't have a "good" reason not to invite UCSD to the conference, but now have every reason to invite this massive school from Southern California.  UCSD's future is bright & the Tritons now bring a national name & new following with them in one of collegiate sports biggest games... and all from none other than beautiful sunny San Diego, California! 

If the MWC can't see UCSD's future conference potential, they're blind!   

 

[robe]

Didn’t they just move up to D1. 

[HawaiiMongoose]

Been saying for months that I'd like the MWC to add one of UCSD, UCI, or UCSB.  The conference needs a SoCal presence, and UCSD has already shown in its just-completed transition to D1 that it's on a rapid path to becoming an all-sports power in the Big West.  Both UCI and UCSB have been at the D1 level for much longer and have had high quality basketball and baseball programs for years.

But it's pretty clear that no further expansion will be considered until the MWC resolves the lawsuits filed against it by the Pac and the five departing members, sees how the House settlement shakes out, and secures its new TV deal.