Nope! The UConn Huskies didn’t meet their destiny as they would’ve liked. Well, the Florida Gators haven’t particularly been the easiest rivals. However, the promises that Alex Karaban & Co. had kept alive in the hearts of the NCAA world have shattered. Not much, just a 2-point deficit was enough to hand over the win to the Gators. The championship dream is broken. And now, it’s time to face the wrath of the die-hards who were rooting for some good news.

Do you remember Karaban took accountability for his team and teammates in February and said they weren’t taking all the games quite seriously? Well, now the fans are surely going to dig up the past and point their fingers. For the first time, in three years there will be a new men’s basketball national champion. UConn’s era ended with their 75-77 loss to the Gators at Lenovo Center.

Even the brightest star, Alex Karaban couldn’t do much, chipping in 14 points compared to the 22-year-old Florida prodigy Walter Clayton Jr.’s 23 points. There is no question about who was the hero of the day. It surely wasn’t Karaban. And it surely wasn’t the entire Huskies squad who turned into mere spectators despite the strong efforts.

Interestingly enough, UConn had them. Locked in. Locked down. For 30 minutes, the Huskies controlled the game, holding Florida’s high-powered offense to just 35% shooting. The upset felt real. But then—collapse. An 8-0 run. Missed chances and costly mistakes. Florida pounced, flipped the script, and never looked back. Now, they march on. Meanwhile, UConn is left wondering what could have been.

Moreover, Walter Clayton Jr. took over for the Gators. A three. A steal. Another dagger. Florida’s 14-3 run shattered UConn’s hopes. Missed rebounds. Painful mistakes. The fight never stopped, but the dream slipped away. As McNeeley’s buzzer-beater fell, Dan Hurley stood frozen. And in the wreckage, Alex Karaban became the scapegoat—fans wasting no time picking apart his flaws.

Fans throw Alex Karaban on the chopping board in UConn’s heartbreak

UConn fans are frustrated, and Alex Karaban is catching heat for it. In a crucial moment against Florida, Karaban had a clear chance to score but hesitated. Instead of finishing strong with his left hand, he opted for a riskier move—and it backfired. Therefore, they took social media by storm to say: “Way too many missed opportunities. Why didn’t Karaban go up with the left hand on that drive? Damn shame.”

Karaban had the moment in his hands. But instead of keeping it simple, he went for style. A flashy move when all he needed was a clean finish. It backfired. The Gators pounced, flipping the game in an instant. UConn crumbled. Now, the blame is on Karaban, and Florida is dancing into the West Region semifinals. So, a furious fan wrote or rather accused the Huskies star forward: “Alex Karaban sold the game by trying to get flashy rather than going straight up.”

The Southborough native has an average of 14.3 points this season. Thus a fan taking his side (slightly) says:

“That last drive by Alex Karaban is a worry I have with him. He’s pretty solid at getting to the rim, but then he tries to avoid contact vs. going up strong. Costs him points and trips to the free-throw line.” At this point even a teary eyes Karaban cannot melt the fans’ hearts who are upset with the outcome. Hesitation destroyed their consecutive title dream. It cost UConn dearly. The Gators took advantage, and UConn was left wondering what could have been.

A noted:

“Karaban unnecessarily goes up for a reverse, misses. Walter Clayton Jr. 3-pointer for the lead. Turnover, fast-break dunk. Just that quick.” So, Alex Karaban went for the reverse but missed. In an instant, momentum shifted. Clayton Jr. seized his chance—draining a cold-blooded three to put Florida ahead. UConn faltered. Moreover, a costly turnover led to a fast-break dunk. Just like that, the game was out of their hands. The Huskies’ dream of a three-peat? Shattered.

“WALTER. CLAYTON. DOES. NOT. WANT. TO. GO. HOME.” Nope, it didn’t look like it. From the moment the second half began, Walter Clayton Jr. took control. He dropped 15 of his 23 points when it mattered most. Step by step, he chipped away at UConn’s lead. Shot after shot, Florida crept closer. Meanwhile, the Huskies started slipping. In the end, they couldn’t hold on. Final score: 77-75. Just like that, their three-peat dreams were crushed.

UConn had it in their grasp, but then, it slipped away—just like that. One hesitation led to one dagger, and suddenly, the dream was gone. As time passes, Alex Karaban will replay that moment over and over. Meanwhile, Clayton Jr. ensured Florida’s victory with his heroics. Now, the Gators celebrate while UConn is left mourning. And just like that, the era is over.