Why Motiejus Krivas Must Be Arizona's Centerpiece

Motiejus Krivas' last season was really good. But he wasn’t the guy. He was more like the glue; defense, rebounding, smart plays, and some scoring when needed. Now, that’s not enough anymore. If Arizona wants to stay elite, Krivas has to jump from “really solid” to straight-up dominant.

We’re talking something like 17 points and 11 rebounds per game. But stats don’t even tell the full story. He has to control games. Like, when things get messy, you just throw it into the post and trust him to figure it out. That’s what elite college bigs do now: they slow the game down and make everything easier.

From Role Player to Centerpiece

College basketball has quietly turned back into a big man’s game. Look at the best teams recently, they all have a dude in the middle who can take over.

That’s why Krivas is so important. If he becomes one of the best centers in the country, Arizona instantly stays in that top-tier conversation. If he doesn’t, then things get shaky fast. It’s kind of that simple.

Here’s the honest part: if Krivas is basically the same player as last year, Arizona probably drops off a bit. Still good, but not scary.

But if he levels up, now you’re talking about a team that can actually make another deep March run. That’s the pressure. And yeah, it’s a lot, but it’s also what great programs expect.

The Ripple Effect on Everyone Else

What’s interesting is how much Krivas affects players like Ivan Kharchenkov. If defenses collapse on Krivas, guys like Kharchenkov get easier looks, more driving lanes, and more freedom overall.

So it’s not just about Krivas putting up numbers, it’s about how he changes the entire offense. Basically, if Krivas dominates, everyone eats.

There’s no more hiding behind depth or balance. This version of Arizona feels different. More focused. More dependent on one player doing something special.

And that’s why this season is so interesting. Because if Motiejus Krivas re-signing is truly successful, the Arizona Wildcats aren’t just staying relevant, they’re right back in the title conversation.