Gary Parrish

DETROIT -- Ernie Kent owes Mark Few a Thank You card.

As you might've read, Kent will be retained as Oregon's basketball coach, but sources told CBSSports.com that the job was Few's if he wanted it. In other words, had Few told Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny that he would leave Gonzaga for Oregon, Kilkenny would've fired Kent and hired Few. As it is, Few made it clear that he was only interested in staying at Gonzaga or possibly moving to Arizona, so Oregon announced on Wednesday that it's retaining Kent, who really owes Few in a big way.

Thirty percent of his salary sounds about right.

Arizona's coaching search is now centered on Gonzaga's Mark Few.

Multiple sources told CBSSports.com that Arizona used third-party representatives to gauge the interest of Few as early as November at the Old Spice Classic, and that informal conversations continued this past weekend, right after North Carolina eliminated Gonzaga from the NCAA tournament.

One source put it simply: "This is Few's job if he wants it."

But does Few want it?

A source told CBSSports.com that Few is intrigued by the tradition of Arizona, but that he would have reservations about taking over a situation that could be similar to what Tom Crean inherited at Indiana. In other words, Few has never done anything but win in 10 seasons at Gonzaga, and so losing game after game next season because of a program that has been decimated by departures and a lack of recruiting is something he might balk at.

Also, Few could be hesitant about taking over at Arizona given that there's an ongoing NCAA investigation.

But sources insisted that he'll listen, and that Arizona is talking.

The NCAA tournament selection committee will have quite a decision to make.

Will they take Saint Mary's based on a 19-2 record with Patrick Mills?

Or will they pass on Saint Mary's because of a 46 RPI?

Honestly, who can tell at this point?

And though you know where I stand on the subject, I'd be lying if I wrote that the Gaels did anything but hurt themselves the past two days, because there's no debating Mills just had the two worst games of his season, which might provide certain committee members the ammunition they need to send Saint Mary's to the NIT.

Gonzaga pounded Saint Mary's late Monday.

You heard that by now, I'm sure.

But did you know Mills was 2-of-16 from the field in the 83-58 loss?

And that he was 3-of-12 from the field 24 hours earlier in a win over Portland?

Add it up, and Mills has missed 23 of 28 shots in his two performances since returning from a broken hand, including 14 of his 16 3-point attempts. That's rough by any measuring stick. And if the committee's excuse to omit Saint Mary's revolves around the theory that the team with this version of Mills isn't the same team that started 18-1 with a healthy Mills, well, they're going to have the stats to back it up, I'm afraid.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Tigers arrived back in this city in the middle of the night in possession of a marquee victory, a top 10 RPI and the type of resume that will almost certainly earn a top two seed in the NCAA tournament provided there are no slip-ups between now and then.

Considering the Tigers have won 50 consecutive C-USA games, that's a reasonable assumption.

Given how they played Saturday night at Gonzaga, it's a safe assumption, too.

"We can't play much better," said John Calipari, and nobody is arguing with him. After holding Gonzaga to just 18 field goals in a 68-50 victory, the Tigers now have the second-most efficient defense in the country (according to KenPom.com), which is primarily why they're enjoying this 14-game winning streak that's moved their record to 20-3.

Are they as talented and explosive as they were last season?

Of course not.

How could they be without Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey?

But what they are is big and strong and athletic and tenacious, and in a season where few teams have separated themselves it doesn't seem far-fetched to think this program could string Final Fours because, again, Memphis is going to have the seed to do it. Just look at this body of work compared to the body of work in 2007. The Tigers entered Selection Sunday that season with a 30-3 record featuring wins over a good SEC team (Kentucky) and Gonzaga, and their reward was a No. 2 seed in the same region as Ohio State. If they were to win-out this season, they would similarly enter Selection Sunday with a 31-3 record featuring wins over a good SEC team (Tennessee) and Gonzaga, and with an ever-improving victory over Cincinnati to boot, a No. 2 seed would be likely.

Then, who knows?

"I think we are one of the best teams in the country," said freshman Tyreke Evans.

These days, it sure looks that way.

Here's Friday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: Gonzaga vs. Memphis on Saturday. Who you got?

-- Josh

I was asked, on the radio a minute ago, to breakdown the match-ups by position, and though that doesn't always mean anything I found it interesting that I basically gave the Zags the individual advantage at every spot except for the spot belonging to Memphis' Tyreke Evans (and even that is debatable if you're matching Evans against Jeremy Pargo). Thus, I think it's safe to assume Gonzaga has the better starting line-up in terms of individual talent, but I'm not sure that translates into the better team, because Memphis has better depth and is better defensively.

Both schools won at Tennessee.

Both schools are cruising in their leagues.

Bottom line, I actually think the Tigers and Zags are pretty similar in terms of how they stack-up nationally, which is why I'll use homecourt advantage as the deciding factor here. There's a reason why Gonzaga will be favored, and that's because the game will be played in Spokane. So if I have to pick a winner, I'll pick Gonzaga in a close game based on nothing more than homecourt advantage (if the game was at FedExForum, I'd pick Memphis), though I won't be surprised in the least if the Tigers go there and win, because defensively they're good enough to hang around and let Evans try to steal one late.

Either way, should be a fun game.

It's probably the most interesting game of the weekend.

Here's Wednesday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: No, Gary. I don't think UConn's A.J. Price was (the problem) for the Zags. I blame Mark Few, the Zags' coach. With 12 seconds to go in regulation and with a three-point lead against the No. 2 team at that time in the country, YOU FOUL THEM. Never let them get a 3-point shot off. Let them make two free throws. You are still one point ahead with the ball. I just don't understand why more basketball coaches don't foul with a three-point lead and under 15 seconds. I turn to you, Gary, to shed some light on this. I have seen more teams in recent years not foul, have the other team tie the game with a 3-pointer and then lose in overtime! Am I missing something?

-- Jim

No, Jim, you are not missing something.

Seriously, I can see both sides of pretty much everything, but the up-three-in-the-final-seconds/you-s
hould-foul theory is one I subscribed to a long time ago, because (like you said) it's just simpler for the other team to hit a 3-pointer and force overtime than it is for the other team to make the first free throw, miss the next free throw, get the rebound and stick it back in. Sure, it can happen. But it's way more unlikely than a guy simply hitting a jumpshot.

So I'm with you, Jim.

Up three in the final seconds, I'm for fouling every time. It should be a universally accepted strategy -- just like walking a guy with first base open to set up a doubleplay is in baseball.

Here's Friday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: Congrats are in store (because) you are the only one who doesn't have Louisville in the Top 25. Congrats on a job well done. Now do you think there is room for UNLV in the next Top 25 (and one)?

(Hint: Take Gonzaga out)

-- AW

First things first: Yes, I look wise to have removed Louisville from the Top 25 (and one) two weeks ago, but in fairness there were a handful of AP voters who followed my lead that same week (or at least did what I did, even if they weren't necessarily following me). They were: Dan Wolken, Dave Jones, Kevin McNamara, Mark Berman, Matt Vautour, Patrick Stevens, Paul Klee, Rusty Simmons and Tom Keegan. So congratulate those wise men, too.

Moving on: Can UNLV make the next Top 25 (and one)?

Maybe.

I'll let you know Sunday night.

But either way, yes, it appears Gonzaga must be taken out.

Here's Thursday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: You should talk more about my beloved Zags. I think they can surprise people in the Elite Eight. I just would like more people to realize the Zags are for real. ... People better watch out for us because we have the most talented team in school history.

-- Josh

You know, Josh, I agree on every level.

In fact, when I update the preseason Top 25 (and one) I plan to move Gonzaga up in the rankings from 12th because the Zags, on paper this season,  figure to be not only the most talented team in school history (like you mentioned) but one of the most talented teams in the nation. For whatever reason, this didn't register with me back in June. But now it does, because, according to DraftExpress.com, there are at least four NBA-caliber players on the roster, and that's not something I'm willing to dismiss given how much I love NBA-caliber players.

(On this note, I've done a lot of research over the past couple of days on the correlation between NBA-caliber players on a roster and national champions. I plan to post my results in the blog before the weekend. But for now I'd like to tell the guy who claimed last week that there is "no need for NBA talent" when it comes to winning the NCAA tournament that he is going to be disappointed and enlightened.)

Anyway, back to Gonzaga.

The non-league schedule is again a killer with games against Washington State, Arizona, Connecticut, Tennessee and Memphis in addition to the Old Spice Classic where the Zags will start with Oklahoma State before likely getting Michigan State and then either Tennessee or Georgetown (Yes, there is a chance Tennessee and Gonzaga could play twice this season). The Old Spice event is in Orlando on Nov. 27-30, which means I'll be spending Thanksgiving at Disney World (sorry, Grandma). For that, I am thankful because the trip will provide an early opportunity to see four top 15 teams (Gonzaga, Tennessee, Michigan State, Georgetown) plus a coach in a new job (Oklahoma State's Travis Ford), a coach under pressure (Maryland's Gary Williams), a coach who probably could've had the South Carolina job if he'd only stayed at Winthrop one more season (Wichita State's Gregg Marshall) and a coach who led his team to a whipping of Vanderbilt in last season's NCAA tournament (Sienna's Fran McCaffery).

All in all, that's a great early season tournament.

And if the Zags manage to win it then the Final Four talk will escalate.