Zags reach their level

Congratulations to Mark Few and his team for performing to the level of their abilities in the NCAA tourney for the first time in three years.

In that interval, their record has been two wins and three losses. Few has never coached a team past the Sweet 16, and the last time that they outscored a team seeded higher was six years ago, and then only as a No. 9 beating No. 8 Cincinnati in 2003.

The only coach to lead Gonzaga to an Elite Eight game was Dan Monson, who then left to coach Minnesota to a 44-68 conference record before resigning in 2006. He now has a conference record of 13-19 in two years with Long Beach State. Not impressive since his record of 52-17 with the Zags.

The CBS sports media widely announced that Gonzaga needed to toughen up to have any chance of beating North Carolina. The Zags had one hard body and he sat for 36 minutes. In brilliant hindsight, sit Austin Daye and start Ira Brown as a test. In four minutes he made a 3-point shot, four free throws and three rebounds. Project that for a full game.

Quite a cynical letter for a devoted fan. They’ve advanced greatly since the McPhee brothers era when we had season tickets. Go Zags.

To Tony Bennett: May you achieve the same mediocre level of success that befell Dan Monson when he chose to leave the Inland Empire as his springboard into obscurity. Poor million-dollar baby.

V.E. Gene Cameron

Spokane