LAS VEGAS – Mark Few met Jared Brownridge in the handshake line and the two took a long moment for a hug and a handshake and some claps on the shoulder, and especially some warm words.

During which, presumably, the Gonzaga coach offered up a letter of recommendation.

“For anything he wants,” Few confirmed.

These are, largely, the unappreciated moments in college basketball, where competitors compete and underdogs hound heavy favorites and everything is harder than a Gonzaga fan – to get specific – feels it should be. And nobody much appreciated Monday night’s 77-68 victory over Brownridge and his Santa Clara teammates in the West Coast Conference tournament semifinals except maybe the Zags themselves and the Broncos whose season is over – or any player or coach who grasps just how hard things are this time of year/John Blanchette, SR. More here.

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