This year, Wichita had the privilege of hosting first- and second-round games, creating a special opportunity for fans to experience the magic of basketball in a unique way. One of the standout events, completely free and open to the public, was the live practices held the day before the games. I decided to take the boys to watch, and they were thrilled when they discovered they could collect autographs from the players. Admittedly, they didn’t recognize most of them—truth be told, neither did I—but that didn’t diminish their excitement. On the way to the arena, I shared with them that, among all the people in the building, the one they absolutely needed to meet was Mark Few, the legendary head coach of Gonzaga. After Gonzaga’s practice, the team ran past, exchanging high fives with the kids but offering few autographs. However, just as the session wrapped up, Coach Few returned to the court. For those who stuck around, he graciously signed autographs and even took a moment to chat. My boys were fortunate enough to have a brief conversation with one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history. As much as the basketball fan in me wanted to dive into a discussion about the game with Coach Few, I held back—it was their moment, and he left them smiling from ear to ear. That small but meaningful gesture served as a powerful reminder of what makes this sport, and March Madness in particular, so incredible. A heartfelt thank you to Coach Few for making their first March Madness experience truly unforgettable.
