Some say the madness shows up just in time for March. In Tucson, though, it spans over six months.

Even in the wake of a gut-wrenching defeat, like that which the Arizona men's basketball team suffered Saturday at the hands of Kansas, it is refreshing to see a common bond among such a large contingent of the UA community.

It is refreshing to see a common bond among such a large contingent of the UA community.

This season, like so many others, kicked off in late October with the students' scramble to purchase tickets to see the nation's premier college program. Despite the riot-esque behavior of some fans who were waiting in line, the fact that so many care so much about a "simple game" shows how lucky UA students and the Tucson community actually are.

Hordes of students and local Tucsonans from all ages and all walks of life gathered throughout the season at local watering holes and eateries to watch "their team" vie for a trip to New Orleans and a shot at the NCAA National Championship.

Gentle Ben's on East University Boulevard invested in a new 52-inch television for its outside patio to accommodate the expected crowd for Saturday's game. Across the street, Frog and Firkin broke out two big screen sets of their own for anyone sitting on their porch or just walking by to stop and take a look. On Thursday, Old Chicago on North Campbell Avenue housed upward of 200 red-and-blue-clad fans for UA's Sweet 16 win over Notre Dame. On North Fourth Avenue, fans congregated in bars with Tucson police officers to watch the second half of the game.

In a time when issues both far and near to home tend to divide members of the campus community into different groups ÷ as the war in Iraq rages on and the university deals with the impending effects of Focused Excellence and a tuition increase ÷ it is important to note the significance of students sharing a common bond.

As for the actual players who fell just short of reaching the ultimate prize this season, keep your heads up, men. You give the campus community something greater than a championship trophy or a new banner to hang in McKale Center. You and your fellow athletes embody many things that are great aboutcollege.

The camaraderie you bring to the campus community and the school spirit you invoke in the city of Tucson does not go unnoticed.

Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Daniel Scarpinato, Jessica Lee, Jose Ceja, Jennifer Duffy, Brett Fera, Erik Flesch, Caitlin Hall, Jessica Suarez and Kendrick Wilson.