See the link. Hawaii and Nevada are in the 40-team field. No SMU. No Rice.
WAC Commissioner Benson may sit on the NCAA Selection Committee, but his sphere of influence only extends to his office door.
<A HREF="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1368&ncid=1368&e=1&u=/ap/20030317/ap_on_sp_co_ne/bkc_nit" TARGET=_blank>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1368&ncid=1368&e=1&u=/ap/20030317/ap_on_sp_co_ne/bkc_nit</A>