SPOKANE, Wash. – As the Gonzaga Bulldogs prepare for their matchup against the Houston Cougars, the focus has shifted to the mutual respect between their coaches, Mark Few and Kelvin Sampson.

Kelvin Sampson, the head coach for Houston, spoke highly of Gonzaga’s Mark Few, stating, “He’s not one of the best coaches in our game. He’s one of the best coaches our game has ever seen. You know, Mark is a Hall of Famer, not just Hall of Fame coach, he’s Hall of Fame everything, father, husband, friend.”

The camaraderie between Few and Sampson extends back to their early coaching days, with Sampson having worked in Pullman at WSU. Despite their friendship, both coaches are fiercely competitive, boasting a combined total of 70 NCAA tournament wins.

As the game approaches, anticipation builds for what could be one of the most exciting coaching matchups of the tournament. Even with their strong relationship, Sampson remains the “enemy” tonight as Gonzaga fans hope for a win.

The mutual admiration between the two coaches adds an extra layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated game. Fans eagerly await the tip-off, ready to see which coaching strategy will lead to victory.