GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It's the standard line Dan Monson pitches at Mark Few every March, an annual check-in to make certain his old friend will be arriving early to the Final Four so they can connect before the hubbub of the week's activities get going.
"Hey, you coming in Wednesday?''
This past Sunday, a day after Gonzaga beat Xavier to reach the school's first Final Four, Monson cheekily called Few with the same request.
"Yeah I'm coming in on Wednesday,'' Few told Monson.
He wasn't done.
"And you're coming with us," Few said. "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.