Last season did not end well for Azuolas Tubelis, who was physically outmatched by Arizona’s final two opponents during the NCAA Tournament. He has since vowed to never let that happen again, which means the 2022-23 season could be a big one for him.
Potentially an award-winning one.
Tubelis is one of 20 players named to the preseason watch list for the Karl Malone Award, given annually to college basketball’s top power forward. He’s the third UA player to make one of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s preseason award watch lists, joining point guard Kerr Kriisa (Bob Cousy) and wing Pelle Larsson (Julius Erving).