Moments before Northwestern coach Chris Collins and his team learned they were bound for Sacramento, California, to take on 10th-seeded Boise State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, they sat and listened to a message.
This one didn’t come in the form of a taped video shown on the Jumbotron at Welsh Ryan Arena. These words were off-the-cuff, heartfelt and direct from the mouths of four individuals — Nate Taphorn, Tino Malnati, Gavin Skelly and NU assistant coach Bryant McIntosh — who six years ago sat in the same seats Boo Buie and Chase Audige found themselves in Sunday.
