likely a 4-team battle... Arizona, Cal, Washington and UCLA.

Athlon's is high on Oregon. 

Huskies picked to finish fifth in Pac-12

Posted by Percy Allen

The hardcore college basketball preseason magazines have hit the newsstands - Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine are scheduled to release their college hoops previews in early November - and they've been pretty consistent about who belongs in the Pac-12's upper tier.

Predictions vary about the order, but most believe defending regular-season champion Arizona, reigning two-time league tournament champion Washington, UCLA and California will compete for the conference crown.

However, Athlon wants to throw another team into the mix. ... Oregon.

The odd man out of the top quartet is Washington, which is expected to finish fifth.

The magazine writes: "Lorenzo Romar's 10th Washington team might be his most unusual. The coach has plenty of promising players on the roster, especially tall, willowy guards, but he has no full-fledged starters from the previous season."

Athlon predicts sophomore guard Terrence Ross will earn a spot on a five-man, first-team all-conference squad. Freshman guard Tony Wroten Jr. is tabbed for third-team all league.

UCLA big man Joshua Smith, the former Kentwood High star, is picked to win the Pac-12 Player of the Year award.

Athlon says the league's top five teams will make the NCAA tournament, but has Washington losing in the first round to Gonzaga in the Midwest region.

Here's a look at the top four Pac-12 finishers according to the major college basketball magazines.

ATHLON

1. UCLA (20)
2. Cal (21)
3. Arizona (25)
4. Oregon

BLUE RIBBON

1. Arizona (10)
2. Cal (21)
3. UCLA (23)
4. Washington

LINDY'S

1. Cal (11)
2. Washington (15)
3. UCLA (20)
4. Arizona (22)

SPORTING NEWS

1. Arizona (12)
2. UCLA (15)
3. Cal (23)
4. Washington (25)