WICHITA, Kan. – This is a narrative about transition. No, the coaches at Houston and Gonzaga who face off in a second-round Midwest Region NCAA Tournament game Saturday aren’t going anywhere. Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Houston’s Kelvin Sampson have done just about everything in their careers.

Everything except winning it all.

The duo of future hall-of-fame coaches has accumulated a combined total of 1,036 wins and four Final Fours in addition to a wealth of experience in the NBA and on national teams. However, neither Few nor Sampson has yet to clinch a national championship, and this is a glaring absence ahead of this intense matchup.

An informed observer put the stakes into perspective: “When you reach this point, it’s time to cash one in,” said Kellen Sampson, Kelvin’s primary assistant.

Kellen was speaking about Houston, which has been on the championship doorstep as a No. 1 seed for the third year running. He could have also referenced Gonzaga; Few boasts a similar successful, yet unfulfilled career. The competitive nature of both coaches has them eager for victory.

Kelvin has not changed the high standards he sets as he leads his team. The Cougars possess three formidable scorers and are among the nation’s top three-point shooting teams, underscoring their credentials.

Quotes:

“The way he coaches you’d think he’s 30,” said Sharp concerning Kelvin Sampson. “He’s the most consistent person I’ve seen, player and coach.”

While this game serves as a bottle-neck through which one of these talented coaches will exit, the journey to this point has been nothing short of exceptional for both.

The matchup pits the nation’s No. 2 scoring team (Gonzaga) against the No. 1 scoring defense (Houston). While Gonzaga boasts nine consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, which is longest in the NCAA, Houston has been a close second with five.

As both coaches face this potential career-defining game, the ultimate dream of hoisting the NCAA championship trophy remains elusive.

Final Thoughts:

Ultimately, for at least one of these coaches, Saturday could be their best chance to realize a lifelong dream of winning the NCAA Tournament.