SPOKANE — Gonzaga basketball fans are breathing a little easier Thursday amid indications that coach Mark Few is not leaving anytime soon. Published reports indicated that Oregon and Arizona both wanted to hire Few, but he was not interested.

Few did not return a telephone message left at his office Thursday.

Few, an Oregon graduate and native of the Eugene area, has long been rumored to be interested in taking over the Ducks.

But Oregon has decided to retain coach Ernie Kent, despite an 8-23 record this season. Several newspapers in Washington and Oregon reported Thursday that Oregon approached Few about the job.

Meanwhile, CBSsports.com reported that Arizona wanted to hire Few, but was turned down. Southern Cal Coach Tim Floyd on Thursday also took himself out of contention to replace Hall of Famer Lute Olson, who retired in October.

Few has compiled a 264-66 record in 10 seasons as head coach at Gonzaga, the second-highest active winning percentage in the nation after Roy Williams of North Carolina.

The Bulldogs have made 11 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, the last 10 with Few as the head coach. Gonzaga was 28-6 this season and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in Few’s tenure.

But there has long been speculation that Gonzaga, which plays in the low-profile West Coast Conference, cannot reasonably expect to rise much higher in the college basketball food chain.

Arizona is one of the nation’s top programs, with a streak of 25 straight NCAA tournament appearances that is the longest active run.