Solomon Hill is a third-team All-Pac-12 pick in Lindy's preseason magazine. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

The Arizona Wildcats, a year after winning the regular-season Pac-10 title, is picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 by Lindy’s College Basketball Annual.

Consider it a close race, however.

Lindy’s ranks Cal No. 11 in the nation, Washington at No. 15, UCLA at No. 20 and Arizona at 22nd.

Although I wrote the Arizona team preview for Lindy’s — as well as a feature on coach Sean Miller — I didn’t have any input in the rankings. Those four teams are clearly the top tier of the conference, and the Sporting News sees that quartet in a different order:

Arizona, UCLA, Cal and Washington.

Sporting News ranks the Wildcats 12th.

Lindy’s selected Arizona junior forward Solomon Hill and senior guard Kyle Fogg each were selected as third-team All-Pac-12.

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Derrick Williams takes a shot at practice Thursday in Tulsa; how will he do facing Memphis' double teams?
Photo by Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

I spoke this morning with Corey Williams, the former Arizona Wildcat who also is the analyst for UA games on Fox Sports Arizona/KWBA.

I asked him which matchup in Friday’s Arizona-Memphis game in Tulsa he finds most intriguing.

“I’m very interested in seeing how they officiate the game,” Williams said.

“(Memphis coach) Josh (Pastner) is no fool. Josh will double-team Derrick Williams. When he starts his moves and spins, will they call the blocking fouls? If they let it go, Derrick sometimes struggles and the team struggles.

“If they are not giving him the fouls, then he’s going to have to kick it out of the double team.”

That means UA’s has to find a few hot hands among a deep group of guys who can bury the 3-pointer: Kyle Fogg, Jamelle Horne, Kevin Parrom, Jordin Mayes, MoMo Jones …

“If these guys knock down the outside shot, they will run Memphis off the floor. I really believe that.”

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