Arizona center Tobe Awaka did not go participate in most of the Wildcats' pregame warmups and is not expected to play in the Wildcats' exhibition game against Saint Mary's on Saturday at McKale.
Arizona did not address Awaka's absence though UA coach Tommy Lloyd is expected to after the game. Awaka wore a sweatsuit and watched the big men's early and active warmups from the side, though he did take part in the layup line shortly before tipoff.
As a junior transfer from Tennessee, Awaka picked up honorable mention all-Big 12 honors last season as the Wildcats' starting center, averaging 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. His absence will give Lloyd a chance to start and heavily play redshirt sophomore Motiejus Krivas at center after Krivas missed most of last season with a foot injury.
Lloyd wound up starting Jaden Bradley at point guard, Brayden Burries at shooting guard, Anthony Dell'Orso at small forward, Koa Peat at power forward and Motiejus Krivas at center.
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Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) gets an arm in trying to stop Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) during the annual Red-Blue Showcase, Oct. 3, 2025, at McKale Center.
Krivas, coincidentally, is a friend of Saint Mary's standout Paulius Murauskas, a fellow Lithuanian who played for Arizona in 2023-24.
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
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