Yes, Sun Devils, it’s a better tournament if the Wildcats make a run

Mar 25, 2013, 9:31 PM | Updated: 9:36 pm

There are certain things that just make everything…better.

Bacon on your food. Gene Hackman in your movie. And the University of Arizona basketball team in your tournament.

We’ve all got our brackets and our office pools. Everybody watches March Madness with the dreams of winning some money or at least the hopes of witnessing a fleeting moment of history through a 15 seed like Florida Gulf Coast University winning or a top seed like Gonzaga losing.

But when the Wildcats make a run our tournament watching habits evolve into something else. We become more emotionally invested. If you went to U of A you love them. If you went to ASU, you love to hate them. If you went to neither, you now have a rooting interest in the closest thing we have to a “local” team. It makes it a far more personal experience.

The tournament is just better — I can’t really think of another word for it — with U of A making a run.

Even if you went to ASU.

Harvard's Christian Webster, left puts a shot past Arizona's Michael Hall in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Wesley Saunders, left, has his shot blocked by Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski during the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
An Arizona trainer and coach Sean Miller, right, look over injured player Grant Jarrett during the first half against Harvard in a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers, left, passes the ball around Arizona's Jordin Mayes, center, and Brandon Ashley in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Christian Webster, left puts a shot up past Arizona defenders, including Kaleb Tarczewski, right, in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers, left, passes to his teammate Jonah Travis, right, as Arizona's Jordin Mayes, second from left, Brandon Ashley (21) and Kaleb Tarczewski (35) defend during the first half in a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers, left, reaches for a loose ball in front of Arizona's Mark Lyons (2) during the first half in a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Mark Lyons, lower left, reaches for a loose ball with Harvard's Laurent Rivard (0) and Siyani Chambers (1) in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski shoots over Harvard's Kenyatta Smith (25) in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard's Kenyatta Smith, left, has his shot blacked by Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Christian Webster, right, drives into Arizona's Kevin Parrom in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Christian Webster shoots in front of an Arizona defender during the first half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona coach Sean Miller shouts to his team in the first half during a third-round game against Harvard in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona coach Sean Miller talks to his players during a timeout in the first half against Harvard during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Solomon Hill (44) dunks in front of Harvard's Laurent Rivard (0) in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Nick Johnson (13) lays the ball up next to Harvard's Christian Webster in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard coach Tommy Amaker shouts to his team in the first half during a third-round game against Arizona in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Mark Lyons goes to the basket in the first half during a third-round game against Harvard in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers walks off the court at the end of a third-round game against Arizona in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard's Christian Webster buries his face in a towel at the end of Harvard's third-round game against Arizona in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona won 74-51. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots between Harvard's Kenyatta Smith, right, and Laurent Rivard, left, in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots over Harvard's Jonah Travis in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots in front of Harvard's Wesley Saunders during the second half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona Beat Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons, center puts a shot over Harvard's Wesley Saunders, back, as Laurent Rivard, left, and Christian Webster look on in the second half during a third-round game in the men's NCAA college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona beat Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona coach Sean Miller urges his players on in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona beat Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Brandon Ashley, center, goes over the back of Harvard's Laurent Rivard during the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots between Harvard's Kenyatta Smith, right, and Laurent Rivard, left, in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)

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Yes, Sun Devils, it’s a better tournament if the Wildcats make a run