Will subpar year hurt MWC's stature?

On the national scene, the Mountain West Conference might as well be known as "Utah and the Seven Dwarfs."

While the Utes are dominating the league like no other team has in the MWC's six years of existence — they sport a 10-0 conference record, are ranked No. 14, are riding a 17-game winning streak and boast one of the best players in the country in Andrew Bogut — the other seven teams haven't exactly caught the attention of the rest of the college basketball world.

Not to mention the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

Barring an upset in the conference tournament next month in Denver, Utah will likely be the lone representative from the MWC in the NCAA Tournament (the last time that happened was in 2001, when BYU tied for the regular season title, then was invited to the Big Dance after winning the conference tournament).

If that happens, could it signal a step backward for the MWC, which has sent three teams to the Big Dance the past three seasons? If it happens, will it have a long-lasting impact on the league?

MWC coaches, including BYU's Steve Cleveland, say no.

"I don't think the (NCAA Tournament selection) committee looks at us like we're a one-team (league)," he said. "We've proven ourselves, even though we haven't had a great deal of success in the tournament; we've had good teams and good RPIs. Until this year, we've had RPIs between the 20s and low 40s. When you have teams like that, you're recognized that the conference is solid. We've had good representation. I don't think it's something that's going to hurt us. It's just indicative of the how the season has gone this particular year. Who knows? Somebody might get hot. I think New Mexico has the wins, and if they run the table, who knows what could happen. Certainly, the RPI and strength of schedule in this conference has not been what it's been in the past."

There is the argument that having only one team in the tournament — a very strong team — could actually help the MWC.

Commissioner Craig Thompson likened the situation to the one in football this past season, when the Utes rose high in the national rankings and earned a BCS bowl bid.

"By playing and winning a BCS game, Utah elevated the stature of the league," Thompson said. "If Utah in basketball were to do the same thing, perhaps win a couple of games and get to the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight, what does that do to the national perception of the Mountain West? It's a very good question. I don't exactly have an answer or necessarily have an opinion. Are you better off getting multiple teams and losing in the first round or getting a single bellcow that wins a couple of games and raises the stature?"