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Arizona men’s basketball stumbled to a 4-5 start early last season in part because of its disjointed rotation, which, among other things, was squeezing both Krivas and Awaka into the low post.

Awaka started all but one game early at center, but was held in single-digit scoring over UA’s first five losses last season. Then, once Krivas was shelved after eight games, Awaka went on to average 8.8 points and 8.0 rebounds in Big 12 play and picked up honorable mention all-conference honors.

Maybe, in a micro sort of way, Awaka paid back the favor Saturday in UA’s 81-68 exhibition win over Saint Mary’s at McKale Center. Awaka sat out with an unspecified injury ... while Krivas fully soaked up 33 minutes, collecting 11 points and 17 rebounds in his first public game since Dec. 7.

“Obviously it’s not ideal to play Mo 32 minutes ... but it’s what the situation called for,� Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said. “So I was really proud of our guys, how they responded to the challenge. Sometimes you’ve got to be ready for maybe some unexpected things.�

After months of rehabilitation and behind-the-scenes work in practice, Krivas was clearly ready.

The 7-2 Lithuanian made 4 of 9 field goals, hit 3 of 4 free throws, collected what would have easily been a career-high in rebounds if it wasn’t an exhibition and even tried a 3-pointer that he missed after trying none over his 44 regular-season games.

“Mo was great despite it was the most he’s played in a while,� guard Jaden Bradley said. “Super proud of Mo, not only on the glass but seeing improvement, stepping out and shooting 3s — they’re definitely gonna fall — and free throws.

“His presence down there is great for our team. We’re going to need it.�

Bradley has some perspective. He arrived in summer 2023 along with Krivas, Bradley as a transfer from Alabama and Krivas as a freshman from Lithuania, with the two bonding on an exhibition trip to the Middle East and playing in those 44 regular-season games together.

Krivas is different now, Bradley indicated.

“He’s definitely gotten better,� Bradley said. “His outside shot, the 3, his physicality, being a rim protector, and it’s only going to get better throughout the season.�

The only thing is, the Wildcats will have to figure out a way to get the most from Krivas and Awaka when both are fully healthy. On Saturday, that wasn’t an issue while Awaka wore sweats to the game and sat out for reasons Lloyd declined to fully disclose.

“Tobe could have played today, and he’s been practicing, but we just felt like the prudent thing to was to rest him,� Lloyd said. “He’s been a little bit banged up, and it made us dig deep and try things you probably wouldn’t have had to try.�

One of those was playing Krivas for 33 minutes, and another was putting freshman forward Koa Peat at center when the Lithuanian 7-footer wasn’t on the floor. In turn, that opened more minutes for freshmen Ivan Kharchenkov (24) and Dwayne Aristode (20).

Lloyd wound up starting Bradley at point guard, freshman Brayden Burries at shooting guard, senior Anthony Dell’Orso at small forward, Peat at power forward and Krivas at center.

Burries had 10 points and seven rebounds over 25 minutes, his on-court life extended considerably by a pregame agreement between Lloyd and Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett to allow players a sixth foul before fouling out, instead of just five.

Burries picked up his fifth with 17:24 still to play.

“Thank God, he agreed to the six-foul deal,� Lloyd said of Bennett. “I wanted to make sure guys got a lot of reps today … (but) it’s something we’ve got to learn from because fouls impact the game and rotations and how you sub.�

Among other issues with his freshmen Lloyd was also mindful of: That Kharchenkov had nine points but no rebounds over his 24 minutes.

“I think what we’ve got to get a better feel for is that our guys are good players, they were good prospects — and maybe they didn’t have to do some of the dirty work,� Lloyd said.

“Because I’m looking at some of these rebounding numbers and it’s just not going to cut it for him to play 23 minutes and not have a rebound. It’s kind of eye opening for me. But that being said, he did have some incredible effort plays in the second half, and some great drives on offense.�

But assuming Awaka returns in time for Arizona’s final exhibition on Oct. 27 against Embry-Riddle or at least their Nov. 3 season opener against Florida, the Wildcats will have four returning veterans to surround their seven freshmen, several of whom will have to carry out significant roles in the rotation.

Lloyd will just have to figure out how to mix them all up.

“I’m not necessarily worried about starting five certain guys,� Lloyd said. “I’m more worried about building a rotation that makes sense and kind of connects the dots. That’s going to be my focus the next couple weeks when I make those decisions.�

By extension, then, that includes deciding where best to mix in Awaka and Krivas, whether to have them share center minutes or play together at times, with Awaka at power forward.

“No question, he’s gonna play some at the four,� Lloyd said of Awaka. “He’s an experienced player and he’s mobile. No question he’s gonna play the four and the five — and I like how those lineups project.�