When head coach Cathy Klein came to the UA two seasons ago, she was forced to build a program from next to nothing. Part of that process included recruiting and leading aggressive, pesky and confident players.

She called them warriors, and sophomore forward/defender Liz Bartlett might as well hold an iron shield and longsword.

Gov. Jane Dee Hull warned legislators at the opening of yesterday's special session not to overlook balancing next year's state budget, which will face an even greater deficit than this year's budget.

The two-year, $1.56 state budget shortfall has forced state agencies to cut at least 4 percent from their fiscal year budgets to fulfill this year's $675 million shortfall. Next year the shortfall will be at least $850 million.

A week ago, the UA men's basketball team was unranked. Monday, the Wildcats jumped all the way to No. 12 in the USA Today/ESPN Top-25 Coaches Poll.

In a twist typical of early-season polls, the Wildcats were still ranked lower than Maryland and Florida, the two teams Arizona defeated en route to an IKON Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Championship last week in New York City.

I found his introduction quite hilarious: "How would [Afghan] children at soccer practice feel if they saw a U.S. Air Force jet overhead?" Well, Julian, with all due respect, I don't think there are many children playing soccer in Kabul, especially considering that the Taliban uses the soccer stadium primarily for public executions.

These instruments form the unique music of the six-person group Sunday Afternoon, a local band performing at noon today on the Mall. The group, consisting of graduate, former and current University of Arizona students, is performing on home turf.