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TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 31: Massamba Diop #35 of the Arizona State Sun Devils pressures Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half at Desert Financial Arena on January 31, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils 87-74. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One is random. Two is a coincidence. Three is a trend. So what does that make four?
A pretty talented quartet.
Motiejus Krivas has been named to the midseason watch list for the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award, given to college basketball’s top center. He joins teammates Jaden Bradley (Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year), Brayden Burries (Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year) and Koa Peat (Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year) as the fourth Wildcat to make the midseason Top 10 for an individual honor given out by the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Arizona’s four nominees are one more than Iowa State, Purdue and UConn.
The 7-foot-2 Krivas has emerged as one of the top rim protectors in the country, helping Arizona rank second in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom.com. With Krivas on the back line, the Wildcats are holding opponents to 43.7 percent shooting on 2-point attempts, 5th-best in Division I.
Krivas has picked up his offensive game this season as well, averaging 11 points with 8.3 rebounds per game on 60.7 percent shooting as well as 80.9 percent from the line. In Big 12 play he’s averaging 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds along with 1.7 blocks per game.
While Burries and Peat were on the preseason watch lists for their respective awards, Bradley and Krivas were added at midseason. UA coach Tommy Lloyd took particular umbrage with Bradley’s preseason snub back in November, but knows why his players are now getting their due.
“Winning matters,” Lloyd said. “Any individual thing you’re going to get in basketball, especially college basketball, winning matters. That’s what it says to me. Our team’s winning, and we’ve had success. So usually individual accolades follow.”
Finalists for each award will be announced in March. Arizona has previously had players win the Karl Malone (Deandre Ayton, 2018) and Julius Erving (Stanley Johnson, 2015) awards.
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