Blue roundup: Vegas columnist missing BYU

One Las Vegas columnist is missing BYU, which has left the Mountain West Conference.

"I love and loathe BYU sports: I loved how people got all lathered up when the Cougars came to town; I loathe that it no longer happens," writes Ron Kantowski. "Love 'em or loathe 'em, BYU was good for business, and these conference shuffles and shake-ups are not. Not if the only option is to play a conference game against Marshall."

Meanwhile, BYU returns to West Coast Conference action tonight at Loyola Marymount, and it will rely heavily on point guard Matt Carlino.

Carlino is profiled in a recent SportsIllustrated.com feature titled "Jimmer Who?"

"Surely, Carlino's 15.0 points per game have helped him win acceptance, and they may well help the Cougars become an NCAA tournament sleeper," writes Luke Winn.

Watch the WCC's online show, "The Road to Las Vegas," that takes an inside look at the league's basketball programs.