Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Venerable college basketball broadcaster Bill Raftery has dozens of stories, good for any occasion. And there always seems to be an occasion.

Raftery, who will be calling his first Final Four on TV this weekend in Indianapolis, has a reputation for enjoying what broadcast partner Jim Nantz calls, “The hang.”

Gonzaga coach Mark Few describes Raftery as “a legend in the after-hours department.” Last week in Houston during the regional semifinals and final, the two traded text messages, Raftery inviting Few to watch Thursday’s games. Few inviting Raftery to breakfast. They didn’t connect, which might be for the better, considering Few’s focus on trying to get the Zags past first UCLA and then Duke.

Nantz says Raftery “might even be afraid to sleep” because he might miss a game or the opportunity to talk hoops. After-hours legend?

“You work to accomplish things in life,” Raftery says. “Nothing that would embarrass the family – but let’s say over the years, I’ve had legs.”

And he references the six-overtime Big East Tournament game six years ago between Connecticut and Syracuse.

“I said, ‘It’s the first time I’ve been out to 2 a.m. in Manhattan and my wife hasn’t been mad at me,” he says.