Shane Bacon staff writer

There are some things in college basketball that will always have a fixture in the most exciting sports atmosphere in the world - March Madness.

As much as I hate to say it, the majestic Cameron Indoor Arena will always be the Mecca of the sport, and the fans will always be the most envied.

And yet, you could never ask Bobby Knight to take off the sweater, Lute Olson to color his hair or Dean Smith to lose, because those things would no longer define the sport.

A few of the traditions that are permanent in the sport today, however, need to find their way out of our March Madness.

5) The "Bullshit" chant - Any call that ever goes against the home team this year seems to jolt this cheer into full effect. When it first came about, it wasn't the worst thing in the world because it was saved for special occasions. Now, the bullshit card is played every time the officials call a block instead of a charge.

Let's make McKale Center an intelligent atmosphere. What school is honestly proud of hearing it echo throughout America's living rooms?

4) Screaming at the head coach - So what might do some good? Hmm, let's see.

Waving your hands at the foul shooter? Yup.

Starting the "airball" chant when a visitor fails to hit steel? Sure.

"Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye" when someone fouls out? That's pretty clever.

But screaming at the head coach who has been doing this job for longer than you've been alive isn't exactly a way to get into a team's head. First, the coach probably can't hear you and second, he isn't going to get jolted.

Remember, head coaches never take shots nor do they have the pressure of a game-winning pull-up jumper for 3 on their mind. You wouldn't holler at your best friend's dad while he was selling another house, would you?

3) Storming the court after a win - When Louisiana State beat our beloved 2002 Arizona Wildcats over Christmas break, storming the court was legit. We were the top team in the nation and the Tigers had nothing going for them heading into SEC play.

But there are very rare circumstances when piling the entire student body on the court is acceptable. Stanford hit an amazing shot against Arizona last year, but they were the best team in the nation and we were a squad on the decline.

You shouldn't be allowed to storm the court when you beat a team that is ranked lower than you.

You also shouldn't fill the court with freshman when you beat No. 17 Louisville in a non-conference game. It happens 20 times a year and that win isn't any more significant than the one you get the next year.

Make this tradition a special one. Save it for Final Four appearances.

2) The t-shirt under the jersey - There is no worse way to ruin a full offseason of working your butt off and packing on 20 pounds of muscle than by blanketing it with a v-neck t-shirt. Whoever started this obviously had arms like those of Chad Pennington, but now can be seen on every other guard in the nation. Look like a team, dress like an athlete and lose the extra threads that make you look like an idiot.

Want to be original or stand out? Why not pimp the 'fro? Sport the headband? Ever heard of Jason Terry?

1) The East Coast Bias - The Atlantic Coast Conference might get seven teams in the tournament this year. Why should UCLA or Oregon be degraded because it isn't in the Big 10?

The East Coast Bias is something I only heard about before becoming an Arizona Wildcat and is something I agonize over daily.

Why is Salim Stoudamire not put in the same category as J.J. Reddick and Gerry McNamerea?

Why do people put Sean May above Channing Frye as the top center in the nation?

So for all the Dukes, Tar Heels, Digger Phelps, Orangemen, Connecticuts, Dick Vitales, Illini, Blue Devils (they get it twice), Demon Deacons, Georgia Techs and Hoyas, check yourself.

You've got some Wildcats and Huskies this year that are hungry for respect.

Shane Bacon is a journalism junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.