CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat John Meloan pitched 7.2 no-hit innings during the Wildcats' win over New Mexico Friday, earning him the title of Pac-10 Player of the Week.

After bringing a no-hitter deep into the eighth inning and giving up only one hit in 7.2 innings Friday, Wildcat ace John Meloan earned "Collegiate Baseball" National Player of the Week honors. The right-hander also struck out a career-high 12 batters in No. 11 Arizona's 9-0 win over New Mexico, leading to a weekend sweep of the Lobos. The Wildcat sat down with Meloan to discuss no-hitters, superstitions and making it back to the College World Series.

Wildcat: How does it feel to come so close to pitching a no-hitter in Division-I baseball?

Meloan: It feels great just knowing that it could have been there. It wasn't quite there so it's almost like a disappointment, but you can't say it was disappointing. I pitched seven and two-thirds innings and only gave up one hit, so it's kind of bittersweet. It's sad to know you didn't make it all the way there, but it's nice to know you were that close.

Wildcat: What was running through your mind when you toe the rubber in the eighth, six outs away from a no-hitter?

Meloan: I honestly tried not to think about it. I could hear people talking about it and people in the stands yelling it out and stuff. I tried not to think about it. I just told myself to keep doing what I'm doing, I'm going well, locate my fastball, don't walk anybody and just throw strikes, and we'll see what happens.

Wildcat: Did your teammates stay away from you in the dugout?

Meloan: Yeah, nobody really talked to me. They were just telling me good job when I came off the mound, giving me a high five or something. But once I got in the dugout, got in the bench, I just got some water, sat by myself, didn't really talk to anybody and just tried to stay loose and stay quiet.

Wildcat: You threw three no-hitters in high school. What was that like?

Meloan: Just incredible. Just knowing I came off a torn ACL, and I kind of got thrown in the middle of the season in high school and my coach gave me a start. I told him I was ready. He didn't think I was. The doctor didn't think I was. He was like "OK, I'll give you a shot.'" He gave me a shot, and I went out and threw a no-hitter, so I was pretty amazed. I didn't think I'd be healthy at all, and I hadn't been throwing much. I went out and threw a no-hitter and my arm felt great. The next week I got another start and threw another no-hitter. The next week I got another start, and I threw three in a row.

Wildcat: What do you have to do this year to go undefeated again?

Meloan: If there was one thing that you knew that would get you undefeated, I think everyone would be doing it. The biggest thing I can say is just stay focused and keep working hard. I pride myself on being a hard worker and in between starts making sure I take care of my arm, making sure I stay in shape, basically take care my body and stay healthy. And once I do get a start, just go out there and compete and compete at the highest level and just maintain as much focus as I can.

Wildcat: After winning National Player of the Week, how does it feel to have to share the award with an ASU player?

Meloan: It feels fine to me. It's the first time I've been nominated so I was proud to get nominated. I actually didn't know I'd been nominated until people starting calling me and sending me e-mails and stuff like that. It's an honor just to be recognized. Even if I have to share it with somebody, that's fine. Erik Averill from ASU did a great job I hear. It's a great performance. I'm honored just to be recognized, it doesn't matter to me if I have to share it or not.

Wildcat: Do you have any superstitions, any crazy stuff you do before a game?

Meloan: I always carry a lucky coin in my back left pocket when I pitch. I'll use it once. It's only good for one game. Throughout the week sometime I'll just be walking around and I'll find a penny on the ground, or a dime or something. I'll keep it for that week and put it in my pocket and I've always found one. I don't ever think about it. I'll just be walking along and see one and it'll be my lucky coin for the week. It started last year, and I've been doing it ever since. I guess it's been working.

Wildcat: Would you consider using your lucky coin from last game?

Meloan: No. Actually, one time I tried to reuse one and I had a rough game, so I won't ever do it again.

Wildcat: What's it like playing high school football in Texas?

Meloan: It's pretty intense. High school football has some great memories, playing with all your buddies and playing underneath the lights. We had a big stadium and we'd sell out our stadium pretty often. It would hold 25-30,000 and we'd sell it out. That's a big deal and that's a big deal for your town too, because the people in your town are who you represent when you play so they come out and watch the games. You're in the news the next day and just have bragging rights until the next week.

Wildcat: Who was your baseball idol growing up?

Meloan: I'd say when I was younger it was probably Nolan Ryan when he was still pitching. I'd say nowadays I try to watch Roger Clemens a lot, try to imitate him and do what I can. He's from my hometown area and I've seen him a little bit, a couple times. I think Roger Clemens is probably the guy I'd like to model myself after if I had to pick somebody.

Wildcat: Did you ever want to pitch for Texas?

Meloan: When I was coming out of high school, UT was on probation for recruiting for two years because they had a violation so they couldn't recruit. They were kind of out of the question to begin with because they couldn't recruit, so I didn't really think about it. I actually wanted to go to Texas A&M really bad out of high school. It didn't work out for me, I ended up at Arizona, and I'm extremely happy here.

Wildcat: Will the matchup against Texas be anything special?

Meloan: It's very special just because they kind of think of me as a traitor when you leave your home state and go play somewhere else. I know some of the guys, and I know they're a good program. Obviously they're No. 1 in the country right now, so it's a big honor just to get to go against my friends.

Wildcat: If you could play for any major league team, who would it be?

Meloan: I really haven't put much thought into Major League Baseball yet. I guess I'd have to pick a Texas team, either the Astros or Rangers, just because that's where I'm from, and I'd like to stay home if I can.

Wildcat: What does this team need to do to make it back to the College World Series?

Meloan: We just need to play our game. The biggest thing for us, I think we definitely have the talent level to go to the World Series again. It's just going to come down to making the playoffs. Once we make the playoffs, are we going to play sound baseball and not make mistakes, our pitchers going to throw strikes and do what they have to do. So it just comes down to once we get into the postseason, is playing good baseball, sound baseball and not playing down or up to anyone's level, just playing our game.

Wildcat: Is there any difference pitching on Friday than Sunday?

Meloan: I've only had one start so far, so it's kind of hard to say. I think the biggest difference that I've noticed in college about pitching on Friday and Sunday, is that the Friday guy can really set the tone for the entire weekend. If he comes out and throws strikes and works quick and keeps the tempo up, it can kind of set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The Sunday starter kind of has to take whatever he gets.

Wildcat: Is that what you did last week?

Meloan: I tried to come out and set the tone. Basically I wanted to throw strikes and get a feel for the hitters as early as I can. I tried to keep my defense off the field, so I tried to work quick, throw lots of strikes and just basically not walk guys. My defense can't work for me if I walk them, so I try to just throw strikes, find the zone with whatever you have and see what happens.

Wildcat: What do you top out at with your fastball?

Meloan: Ninety-three, and it normally comes later in the game when I'm tired. Anywhere between 88 and 93 is what I've been hitting lately.

Wildcat: Who were you rooting for in the Super Bowl?

Meloan: I was actually rooting for the Eagles just to turn it around a little bit. The Patriots have been around for a few years now, and I just wanted to see some change. I just really wanted to see a good game.

Wildcat: This or that: College World Series or Major League World Series?

Meloan: College World Series.

Wildcat: High school football or high school baseball?

Meloan: High school football. Football just brought a lot more attention about. I don't play it anymore so I miss it a lot more than I do baseball.

Wildcat: Panda Express or Chick-Fil-A?

Meloan: Panda Express.

Wildcat: Gatorade or water?

Meloan: Gatorade.

Wildcat: The Clydesdales or Budweiser frogs?

Meloan: I've got to go with the frogs.