LOS ANGELES -- All it took was three Pac-12 titles in four years for Stanford to finally get the nod in the preseason media poll.It marked a first for the Cardinal in the 56-year history of the poll, having previously never been slotted higher than second in the Pac-12 North in the five seasons since adding divisional play and a title game, a span that coincides with head coach David Shaws tenure.The newfound admiration is taking a little getting used to.It truly shows that you have no idea what you are doing, Shaw jokingly told reporters Friday.It feels strange, defensive lineman Solomon Thomas said. Were thankful for that, but were just going to keep our head down and have that tunnel vision.After years of finding reasons not to vote Stanford in the top spot ranging from the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh to the exit of quarterback Andrew Luck, the Cardinal seemingly have earned the benefit of the doubt despite losing four-year starting quarterback Kevin Hogan, three dominant offensive linemen and stalwart inside linebacker Blake Martinez. Shaw pointed to the back of the ballroom on the fifth floor of the Hollywood and Highland complex, where running back Christian McCaffrey was holding court, as the reason for that confidence.Its a sign of respect and I think it has a lot to do with the guy in the back left corner of the building there, but once we start practicing and playing games, all of that goes away, Shaw said.McCaffrey was the undisputed star of the otherwise sleepy Pac-12 media days, with last seasons Heisman Trophy runner-up detailing everything from his encounter with pro wrestler Ric Flair at the ESPY Awards earlier in the week -- I just shook his hand. I didnt whoo. I couldnt get it out. -- to his pet potbellied pig named Tarance.He died of obesity, McCaffrey said.McCaffrey shredded Iowa for a Rose Bowl-record 368 all-purpose yards in Stanfords dominating 45-16 win, finishing his sophomore season with 2,019 yards rushing. Shaw expects opposing defenses to focus on McCaffrey, especially as redshirt senior Ryan Burns or redshirt junior Keller Chryst settles in at quarterback, but believes the presence of other returning skill position players could allow him to surpass his record-setting season.Thats why you have a great team, Shaw said. Having all those guys around him with experience, with playing ability . helps Christian be what Christian can be and maybe make him even more dangerous knowing that he has more dangerous guys around him.And while the Pac-12 negotiated for earlier television broadcast windows to avoid the stretch of late-night games Stanford had to play last season, McCaffrey had no interest in the idea that Heisman voters right actually see him play rather than just looking at highlights and box scores.As far as exposure goes, I could care less, McCaffrey said. Whether I have the greatest season ever and everybody sees it or I have the worst season ever and no one sees it, if Im playing football thatll bring me peace and thats where I am happy.That mentality of never being satisfied has been a constant during Stanfords football renaissance. McCaffrey said the underdog attitude that permeated the locker room and caught his eye as a recruit is still there, even coming off a conference championship and the expectations of winning another.Nothings changed, McCaffrey said.Maintaining such commitment might allow Stanford to avoid continuing the dubious history of the preseason media poll. Only two of the previous nine selections actually won the Pac-12 that season. Cheap Air Max Authentic . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. 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PHILADELPHIA -- Joel Embiid yanked the rim with such force on a two-handed dunk that he managed a quick pull-up before he let go and snapped it back into position.Hes going to break the rim, right there, a 76ers employee said, laughing.The rim was sturdy during a pregame drill.So now, is Embiid.Embiid has teased the Sixers since he was picked third overall in the 2014 draft with the expectation he would become the cornerstone center that would lift the Sixers to -- well, lets start with 20 wins.What he became instead was a flawed symbol of a so-called Process that saw a losses-into-lottery methodology leave the organization as the worst in the NBA. The Liberty Bell crack would seemingly heal quicker than the broken bones in Embiids right foot. He had surgeries in consecutive years that cost him his first two seasons and relegated his double-doubles to snappy Snapchat and Instagram posts.The wait for Embiid is over.He is not only healthy enough to have his minutes bumped to a preseason-high 20 on Saturday night against Detroit, the Sixers have considered backing off their plan of holding him out one game of back-to-back sets. The Sixers first set of consecutive games is Nov. 1 and 2 and they have 17 this season.We would have guessed that back-to-backs would have been off the table, that they wouldnt have happened, coach Brett Brown said. I feel like where we now are at watching him, its stuff we are completely considering. To say it will happen, I cant say that.Embiid caused a scare when he landed awkwardly on his right foot in the first half Saturday, but he played in the second half for the first time in six preseason games and wowed the crowd by faking a spin before a left-handed layup and emphatic first pump for part of his 15 points.I like the pressure, I like the responsibility, Embiid said.Brown, in his fourth season, said he would take a cautious approach with Embiids minutes.There are some times just with normal aches and the other parts of his body that you pay attention. Its still a 275-pound, 7-foot-2 man going up and down the court, he said. How about his motor, when he puts his mind to it? How about hiss lateral quickness, when he puts his mind to it? To get that stuff, just harder, longer, makes you think we have to take this course.ddddddddddddOK, so Embiid is back for the 10-win Sixers.But who will join him in the frontcourt?Once thought to have a logjam in the paint, the Sixers instead have more mystery. Big men, big questions: Who is ready for the 76ers?Jahlil Okafor led the Sixers with 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his rookie year before he was shut down in March for surgery on a torn right meniscus in his right knee. The Sixers said he was expected to resume basketball activities in about six weeks.Six weeks has stretched into seven months. Okafor, the 6-foot-11 center out of Duke, has yet to play in the preseason and the Sixers are hopeful he can play in the Oct. 26 opener against Oklahoma City.The movement at times produces some things that make us feel like we dont want to push it forward too much, Brown said. There is some biting, there is a little bit of pain. We just pull him back.Nerlens Noel, another key cog in the re