The arguments aren't going anywhere.

Debates between fans, coaches and analysts as to how many basketball teams from each specific conference should get into the NCAA tournament will exist so long as March Madness exists.

But this year, discussions surrounding the Mountain West Conference may sound a little different.

Instead of arguing the merit of three league teams, MWC proponents will spend the next month stumping for four teams to make the Big Dance.

"I think we are [recognized nationally]," San Diego State coach Steve Fisher said during Monday's weekly coaches teleconference. "It's never to the degree that you would like. It doesn't matter what league you're in, you could have a 10-team league and get nine of them in and say 'Hey, we're underrated, they're not giving us enough respect.'

"[But] this league is laden with teams that could beat any team in the country."

Some analysts are recognizing that.

The conference doesn't have a single team ranked in either of the major Top 25 polls, but four teams are receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN version.

And some tournament prognosticators, including ESPN's Joe Lunardi, currently project four MWC teams - Utah, San Diego State, UNLV and BYU - to make the tournament field.

"You knew it was going to be a fantastic league, and I said it from the day I got the job, I think this is one of the best league's in the country," TCU first-year coach Jim Christian said. "It's the most underrated league in the country, and if some of our teams got the national exposure of some other leagues, the whole country would be talking about the way some of [the MWC] teams are playing."

Some of those major-conference teams already know how good MWC teams are playing.

Utah is inching closer to the top 10 nationally in terms of RPI thanks to nonconference victories against LSU, Gonzaga and Mississippi, while UNLV posted a nonconference victory at Louisville without star guard Wink Adams.

The top five teams in the league are all in the top 75 in the RPI rankings.

"Quality of schedule, for the league as a whole, I think is a big part of it," Utah coach Jim Boylen said. "Those inter-conference games that you win that get national attention are huge. I also think that our league is better than it was and they say it's the best in the last 10 years.

"When you have veteran players and starters returning and you have coaches who are prepared and you play a good schedule, I think the formula kind of fits together."

Past tournament runs should help the league earn a little more respect as well.

UNLV has won at least one NCAA tournament game in each of the last two years, marching to the Sweet 16 in 2007, while Utah advanced just as far in 2005.

"What needs to be done is you need to get to the tournament and then win in the tournament," Fisher said. "Lon Kruger and the UNLV squad did more to enhance the perception of our league two years ago when they beat Wisconsin - who was a top-10 rated team [and] won the Big 10 - and got to the round of 16. What Utah did when Bogut was there to get to the Sweet 16, all those things help build a conference resume."

The MWC's resume is as strong as it has ever been and four bids would be a record for the 10-year-old conference.

But there's still plenty of time to pad - or suffer blows to - a resume.

And there's always time to debate.

Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@trib.com.

MWC TRACKER

FEBRUARY MADNESS: While no Mountain West Conference teams currently appear in the Top 25 polls, four of them appeared in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi's latest bracket.

WHO'S IN?: Lunardi, who correctly predicted all 65 teams to make last year's NCAA tournament, currently has Utah, San Diego State, BYU and UNLV in his field, with the Cougars and Runnin' Rebels as two of the last four teams to make it in.

RPI CHATTER: The league remains seventh in RPI, behind the SEC, despite having five teams in the top 75. Utah, which was 13th as of Monday, leads the way. Air Force was last at 272 while the Pokes continue to hover right around 100 out of 343 Division I teams.

INSIDE: The Aztecs and Utes meet Wednesday in Salt Lake City with first place on the line. PAGE B4