Cal 4th, Stanford 10th in preseason media poll

Cal, featuring All-America candidate Ivan Rabb, was picked fourth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll, which was announced Friday at Pac-12 media day. Stanford, under first-year coach Jerod Haase, was picked 10th.

Oregon, last year’s regularseason and conference tournament champion, received 23 first-place votes and 320 points from the 27 media members who cover the league. It beat out Arizona, which had the remaining four first-place votes and 298 points.

Oregon, which returns four starters, was the preseason pick for the first time in the 28-year history of the poll.

UCLA, which also returns four starters and adds McDonald’s All-Americans Lonzo

Ball and T.J. Leaf, was picked to finish third. Colorado, also with four starters back, was picked fifth. Washington, featuring heralded freshman Markelle Fultz, was sixth. The winner has been accurately chosen in 16 of the 27 preseason rankings.

Last season the Pac-12 had a record seven teams in the NCAA Tournament. It has three teams — No. 5 Oregon, No. 11 Arizona and No. 20 UCLA — in the USA Today coaches preseason top-25. Five other Pac-12 teams received votes.

Conference play begins Dec. 28 and climaxes with the Pac-12 tournament at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas March 8-11.

Where’s Trier?: Arizona sophomore guard Alonzo

Trier was scheduled to appear at Pac-12 media day but was a no-show as his academic eligibility has come into question.

Coach Sean Miller declined to comment on Trier’s status.

Speaking on the Pac-12 Networks earlier in the day, Miller said Trier had worked harder in the offseason than any other player he’s had.

“He’s added to his game,” Miller said. “I hope he’s going to be one of the stories of why you do come back.”

Trier averaged 14.8 points per game in his freshman season but missed seven games due to a hand injury. He was believed to be headed for the NBA after one year, but announced in April that he would return.

Freshman phenom: Cal point guard Charlie Moore hasn’t wasted any time making a first impression on head coach Cuonzo Martin.

“He might be the first one that I’ve seen as a true freshman, from the summertime up until now, that really hasn’t skipped a beat, hit a wall or made a facial expression or used poor body language that says, ‘I’m struggling,’ ” Martin said. “He just takes it in stride and keeps rolling. He’s a fierce competitor. He wants to be successful. He pushes the ball. He makes guys better. …

“I won’t be surprised when it’s all said and done if Charlie is one of the better guys to ever come out of Cal.”

Briefly: The Pac-12 has provided the NBA with 28 first-round picks in the past four years. … The West Regional will be in San Jose, and the Final Four will be in Phoenix.