Pink soup, basketball and family: Krivas and Jarusevicius excited for return to Lithuania

For Tucson basketball fans, Arizona’s upcoming exhibition trip to Lithuania will be more than a preseason tour. It will give Wildcats players and supporters in Southern Arizona a chance to see Motiejus Krivas and Ugnius Jarusevicius return to their home country wearing Arizona uniforms, while the team introduces its program to a nation where basketball is central to the culture. The Wildcats will leave Aug. 13, spend several days practicing and touring, then play three games against national teams.

The trip also reflects Arizona’s growing connection to Lithuania. Five Lithuanian players have worn the Wildcats’ uniform during the past four seasons: current players Krivas and Jarusevicius, along with former Arizona standouts Azoulas Tubelis and Tautvilas Tubelis. Paulius Murauskas, another former Arizona forward, now plays for Arizona State. The Lithuanian basketball federation highlighted that group in an Instagram promotion, placing the Arizona players alongside the country’s traditional green and yellow colors and calling attention to the Lithuanian presence at Arizona.

That connection gives Arizona unusual visibility in a country known for its passionate basketball following and its national team and NBA players. Coach Tommy Lloyd said the number of people in Lithuania who recognize the University of Arizona and understand the strength of its basketball program might surprise Tucson residents. The trip, he said, offers the Wildcats a chance to share the program with a broader international audience. Reserve guard Bryce James may be the most recognizable Arizona player worldwide, Krivas acknowledged jokingly, but the Lithuanian players provide a more direct link to the country.

The exhibition schedule will include a game against Lithuania’s national B team on Aug. 19, a matchup with Ukraine on Aug. 20 and a final game against Lithuania’s senior national team on Aug. 22. Arizona will initially be based in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, for five days of practices and sightseeing. The team will then travel toward Kaunas for the games and other activities, including a planned visit with Lithuanian basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis. The final game will be played in Alytus, Jarusevicius’ hometown, which is about 65 miles from Vilnius and has roughly 50,000 residents.

For Jarusevicius, that hometown game gives the trip a deeply personal meaning. His transfer from Nebraska to Arizona was announced in May, around the time the Wildcats began planning the Lithuania visit. He said his parents never expected that he would play college basketball in the United States and eventually return home to compete for his American team. Having them watch him in Alytus, he said, represents a full-circle moment and a major opportunity.

The games will also be Jarusevicius’ first since his Nebraska season ended after one appearance because of recurring back problems. He said the issues began in August of last year, followed by an initial flare-up and an attempt to manage the condition through reduced workload. Another flare-up after a game made the situation more difficult, and he was ultimately unable to continue playing. Jarusevicius said he was cleared to return after leaving Nebraska in May. He went home to renew his visa, then came to Tucson and began training with Arizona.

Tucson teammates have also been getting to know the player behind the full name, which is pronounced roughly “ooog-nis.” At Nebraska, Jarusevicius adopted a nickname because it was easier for Americans to say. With Krivas, however, language is not a barrier. The two Lithuanians generally speak their native language when they are together, switching to English when other teammates are present. Their familiarity should help Arizona’s players navigate the trip, both on the court and while visiting their teammates’ home country.

The players are especially eager to introduce the team to Lithuanian food. Krivas plans to promote pink soup, a cold beet-based dish made with kefir, cucumbers, dill and hard-boiled eggs. Its bright color and chilled preparation make it especially popular during hot weather, although Arizona players may need convincing before trying it. Jarusevicius said the food is one of the things people miss most after spending a full year away from home, and he expects his teammates will enjoy it even if the flavors are unfamiliar.

The journey became possible after the NCAA changed its rules this spring to permit foreign exhibition tours every year instead of limiting teams to one trip every four years. Lloyd had previously discussed taking Arizona to Lithuania with Krivas, but the plan never came together. The Wildcats instead traveled to Israel and the United Arab Emirates in August 2023. Once the rules changed, Lithuania became the natural choice, giving Krivas a long-awaited return home and Jarusevicius a chance to play before family and hometown supporters while Arizona begins preparing for the coming season.