Kerr Kriisa transfers out of Arizona, which is definitely good for the U of A

When players hit the transfer portal in any sport, one obvious question we have to ask is whether the transfer is a net positive or a net negative for the program. Connected to that question is the matter of whether a transfer was player-initiated or coach-encouraged. Some players want to leave a program while the coach hopes they will stay. Other players never want to leave a school, but the coach makes it plain that the roster calculus demands turnover and change.

We can pretty clearly say that Kerr Kriisa’s entry into the transfer portal — leaving the Arizona Wildcats — was a coach-encouraged transfer. Kriisa loved wearing the Arizona uniform. He was a pot-stirrer who brought energy and personality to the Wildcats. He enjoyed irritating opponents and expressing his emotions on the court. He was having a grand old time in Tucson.

Kriisa’s departure is an obvious product of coach Tommy Lloyd having a frank conversation and declaring an intent to upgrade the Arizona backcourt for next season. Arizona’s guards clearly lacked the dominant, all-court skill of Bennedict Mathurin, who helped the Cats earn a No. 1 seed at the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Arizona’s guards were unable to do much of anything in the final eight minutes of a supreme implosion against 15th-seeded Princeton in this year’s edition of March Madness.