Craig Degel

Notes From The Road

It was a weekend in which Arizona outscored its two opponents 181-109 and the name "Cross-Eyed Betty" entered the national consciousness.

Welcome to my world at the NCAA Tournament ...

Like Tucson, Sacramento has a bar called O'Malley's. Unlike Tucson, you can't smoke in Sacramento's O'Malley's. Advantage Sacramento ...

The student media from Illinois State became my new friends during the Tournament. We partied with members of the UA pom line.

"Cross-Eyed Betty" is an interesting story, parts of which I will take to my grave. I don't think she was really cross eyed. She was just that drunk. As for her story, let's just say one of the Illinois State guys was happy this weekend despite his team's 82-49 loss to Arizona. You're the man, Mark ...

I didn't see much of John, the Illinois State writer, because his laptop went on the fritz. Tough break ...

The boys at Sacramento State were gracious hosts and knew how to party as well. There was Darren - great pool player - and Chris - love those free passes brother. Then there was Zach who promised, but didn't deliver, on the Sac State gymnastics team. Bastard ...

Lest I forget Doug, Dig Doug, who wore his media pass everywhere so as to impress the Tennessee cheerleaders. Didn't work ...

Last, but certainly not least, was Chris from Illinois State. A great guy who turned 21 over the trip - along with Melissa from the pom line - and let me buy him a cigar. Chris got a cigar from me. Great trade-off ...

Arizona won the right to play Maryland on Thursday. Take Arizona in the pool by 15 points ...

815 L St. was the bar we hung out at when we weren't drinking all the free beer in the media hospitality lounge. I met King Rice there. He's the former UNC point guard who led the Tar Heels to the 1991 Final Four. Nice guy, no dance skills ...

I'm off to Anaheim this weekend while the boys from Illinois State are back home in Normal, Ill., ready to start classes. I'm going to miss those guys ...

Craig Degel is a journalism senior and covers men's basketball for the Arizona Daily Wildcat.

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