SALT LAKE CITY — On multiple levels, Gonzaga’s nationally recognized basketball program is the reason BYU needs to flee the West Coast Conference at virtually any cost.

The Bulldogs put together an impressive non-conference resume — beating teams from the Big 12, Pac 12 and the ACC — before breezing through the WCC without a blemish. The NCAA Selection Committee took notice, awarding Gonzaga with a coveted No. 1 seed in the tournament. Turns out, it was not good for the ’Zags and their WCC brethren.

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By 9 p.m. last Saturday, it was clear Gonzaga was a fraud, not even close to being worthy of such a lofty status. The “anything can happen in one game” argument doesn’t fly in this case, primarily because the Bulldogs barely managed to beat No. 16 Southern.

By stumbling all over themselves, the Bulldogs damaged their own cause and mangled any chance of other WCC teams getting a decent seed in future tournaments. Specifically for BYU, say goodbye to anything better than the dreaded eight or nine seed for a while.

Forget the theory that tournament seeding is based solely on each team’s accomplishments during the particular season. For all the data that is available to committee members, human beings can’t help but remember recent history.

Come Selection Sunday next March, the committee will recall that Gonzaga flamed out under the intense spotlight. In effect, the Bulldogs embarrassed the committee by failing to at least reach the Sweet Sixteen. Embarrassment usually easily jars the memory.

The trickle-down effect will impact BYU, which already doesn’t have a strong recent history in the NCAA Tournament outside of the Jimmer Fredette sensation.

Wait a second, you say. Plenty of high seeds get bounced in upsets every year in the tournament. It’s why we call it March Madness.

All true, much to the delight of most every college basketball fan. Except for fans of those individual losers, it’s great fun to watch unheralded Harvard stun over-seeded New Mexico or unknown Florida Gulf Coast shred perennial power Georgetown.

Given its affiliation, Georgetown doesn’t have to worry about casting a negative light on fellow conference members. The Big East has enough street cred to withstand any early upsets.

New Mexico, on the other hand, is not so fortunate. On the heels of the perceived tough Mountain West, the third-seeded Lobos spoiled the potential of high seeds in the future for themselves and conference members. And don’t look for the overrated MWC to get four at-large berths.

The top seed’s early departure in the West also could impact BYU’s chances of even getting into the tournament. Because the WCC is already viewed as a second-tier league, having Gonzaga go through the conference without a loss only strengthens the argument the league is weak. Nobody was good enough to stand up to a team that couldn’t even get past the first week despite an overwhelming advantage.

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Gonzaga was No. 1, yet never really played like it in the NCAA tournament.

If a league has a weak reputation, it won’t get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to dishing out at-large berths. Since we already know that BYU struggles to beat Gonzaga, the Cougars might have to wrestle with Saint Mary’s every year to land the WCC’s second berth to the tournament.

Without a positive NCAA history, Steve Cleveland’s BYU teams got hosed in consecutive tournaments. In March of 2003 and ’04, BYU had good teams but was rewarded with tournament-tested opponents in Connecticut and Syracuse, respectively. Both seasons ended in close losses.

Unless the Cougars can put together a once-in-a-generation non-conference season, expect them to be saddled with lousy NCAA seeds. On the bright side, a solid won-loss record built on success in the WCC could lead to a good seed in the NIT.

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