The NBA Draft deadline came and went last week, with Brayden Burries and Koa Peat declaring as expected. But it was radio silence from two other Arizona players who were considered possible departures, making for an unsure weekend for Wildcat fans.
Arizona fans got certainty on one of those players Monday morning, when the program announced center Motiejus Krivas will return to the UA for the 2026-27 season.
The 7-foot-2 Krivas will return for his senior season, making him the first player of the Tommy Lloyd era to start and finish his career at Arizona.
Krivas had a breakout junior year, his first as a full-time starter, averaging 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 56.9 percent from the field and 78 percent from the line. He started all 39 games, helping Arizona finish the season ranked second in KenPom.com in adjusted defensive efficiency.
His 407 points in 2025-26 were more than in his first two seasons, which included 36 games off the bench as a freshman and just nine appearances (with one start) as a sophomore before undergoing season-ending foot surgery. His 83 games played ranks fourth-most among UA players during the Lloyd era, most by someone who began his career with the Wildcats.
The return of Krivas helps shore up a frontcourt that must replace Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year Tobe Awaka, who has graduated, as well as Peat and and Sidi Gueye, who entered the NCAA transfer portal and will play next season at Santa Clara.
Arizona fans now await an announcement from Ivan Kharchenkov.
Center Mabil Mawut, one of two players to redshirt in 2025-26, is also back, but the Wildcats are likely to add at least one more to the frontcourt either via the transfer portal or prep ranks, likely from overseas.
The last time Arizona was coming off a trip to the Final Four, in 2002, it returned one starter (point guard Jason Gardner) and top reserve Luke Walton. The 1998 squad brought back all eight rotation players from the national championship team.
