Arizona was ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll today, the Wildcats' fifth straight appearance in the major preseason poll but lowest ranking in any of its weekly polls since the end of the 2012-13 season.
The No. 12 ranking also tied the lowest ranking the Wildcats have received in any major preseason publication or poll, though it is also the latest, and may reflect the Wildcats' loss of potential starter Ray Smith.
Arizona was ranked No. 10 in the USA Today coaches poll, No. 12 by Lindys, No. 8 by Sporting News and Athlon, and No. 7 by Blue Ribbon Yearbook.
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The Wildcats were ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll last season and finished at No. 5 (AP polls are not conducted after the NCAA tournament). They were ranked No. 6 at the start of the 2013-14 season, spent eight weeks at No. 1 and wound up No. 4.
in 2012-13, the Wildcats also began the year at No. 12, rose to No. 3 during a 14-0 start, then finished at No. 21.
Our huge annual preseason basketball section came out in Sunday's print edition, and we have begun posting stories from it online.
Posted so far: A season preview that breaks down the modern way that Sean Miller has constructed an elite roster, UA player capsule bios, along with an update on the (all but dead) DirecTV-Pac-12 situation, and Greg Hansen's column.
Kevin Parrom's rights were traded to the D-League's Texas Legends, where he'll join ex-Wildcat Brandon Ashley in training camp. Parrom spent last season overseas after spending the 2013-14 season with Rio Grande Valley, but is heading to play for the Legends this time.
No former UA players were taken in the D-League draft over the weekend, but Colorado's Askia Booker was Maine's first-round pick.
Campus Insiders also picks Arizona to win the Pac-12.
Tyrone Wallace had a good night at Cal's "Madness" celebration, while Kameron Rooks also was impressive in a return from an ACL tear, according to this Scout story.
No detail yet on how Arizona's scrimmage went at Saint Mary's on Sunday, though UA is scheduling media interviews for Thursday. While NCAA rules prohibit coaches and schools from talking about closed scrimmages beforehand, they don't prohibit coaches from talking in general about them afterward -- if they want to.
