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The Arizona Wildcats were picked as slim favorites to win the Pac-12 Conference in the 2012 preseason media poll released on Thursday before Pac-12 media day.
The Wildcats garnered 403 points and 15 first-place votes to edge out the UCLA Bruins, who had 402 points and 16 first-place votes. California earned three first-place nods and Washington two.
Looking at the landscape overall, it's tough to say what will happen after UCLA and Arizona. Sean Miller's team probably gets the edge only because of Shabazz Muhammad's status that remains up in the air. If he is able to play and is cleared by the NCAA, his talent along with that of Kyle Anderson, who was cleared this week, probably puts UCLA ahead of the Wildcats.
After that, it's a crap shoot. California has the coaching and maybe not the talent, as does Stanford. Washington is always in the hunt and have Abdul Gaddy and C.J. Wilcox making up for the loss of Terrence Ross to the NBA. Colorado lost some pieces like Carlon Brown, but at sixth are arguably a bit low considering they have Andre Roberson, a Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate.
Oregon is likewise in the picture, as is the rising Oregon State program.
Pac-12 preseason media poll
1. Arizona, 403 points (15)
2. UCLA, 402 (16)
3. California, 325 (3)
4. Stanford, 296
5. Washington, 278 (2)
6. Colorado, 262
7. Oregon, 217
8. Oregon State, 166
9. USC, 163
10. Washington State, 111
11. Arizona State, 107
12. Utah, 78
Pac-12 Media Day
Sean Miller and Solomon Hill have a quick turnaround to get to Pac-12 Media Day following UA's 108-67 victory against Humboldt State.
A live stream of the media day interviews will be shown at the Pac-12 website here, starting (about now) at 10 a.m. PT. Miller and Hill will be up around 11:45 a.m. PT.
Here's the full schedule:
10:00 a.m. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott Welcome
Pac-12 Enterprises President Gary Stevenson Welcome
10:15 a.m. USC - Kevin O'Neill // Jio Fontan
10:25 a.m. Utah - Larry Krystkowiak // Jason Washburn
10:35 a.m. Arizona State - Herb Sendek // Carrick Felix
10:45 a.m. Oregon State - Craig Robinson // Angus Brandt
10:55 a.m. Washington State - Ken Bone // Brock Motum
11:05 a.m. Stanford - Johnny Dawkins // Aaron Bright
11:15 a.m. Break
11:25 a.m. Colorado - Tad Boyle // André Roberson
11:35 a.m. UCLA - Ben Howland // David Wear
11:45 a.m. Arizona - Sean Miller // Solomon Hill
11:55 a.m. Oregon - Dana Altman // E.J. Singler
12:05 p.m. California - Mike Montgomery // Allen Crabbe
12:15 p.m. Washington - Lorenzo Romar // Abdul Gaddy