The UConn Huskies are on a quest for their third consecutive title, but this season, they’re not the same team that stormed the courts last year. With a roster overhaul and fresh talent brought in, head coach Dan Hurley is keeping his team grounded. But even he couldn’t deny that for him and Alex Karaban, this is personal. They’re the only two who know the taste of back-to-back championships. The rest? Well, they’re just trying to snag their first.

When asked about the pressure of making history, the Huskies HC didn’t mince words. “I don’t think it’s a thing for us right now,” he shared. “I think as the season wears on…maybe we start playing through the Big East Season and look like a real team against higher quality competition.”

He didn’t forget to add, “I don’t think it’ll be a thing for anyone but Alex…maybe me and Alex. Everyone else is either trying to get their first or will be pretty oblivious to it.” While the Huskies may have the title experience, their roster has taken a hit. 

Top players Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan both transitioned to the NBA, leaving UConn with some big shoes to fill. With Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer also graduating, Hurley has brought in some impressive new talent to carry the team forward. 

Five-star center Liam McNeeley, along with Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham, joins the squad, and key transfers like Aidan Mahaney and Tarris Reed Jr. bring the skill the No.3 team needs. As for their passion for chasing the three-peat, we can’t make any judgments right now. 

As Hurley puts it in the press conference, “I think if we are able to play at the level that we played the last couple of years, that could become a thing.” However, they are off to a strong start. Their recent blowout win against Le Moyne proves this. 

Alex Karaban led the way with 11 of his 17 points in the first half, while new arrival Liam McNeeley added 15 points. Other key players, like Tarris Reed Jr. and Hassan Diarra, stepped up with double-digit points, helping secure a decisive 90-49 victory. 

In their season opener against Sacred Heart, Karaban was unstoppable, tallying 20 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 7 blocks. Though early-game jitters made for a few sloppy plays, by the second half, UConn dialed up the defense. The highlight? Their forward ‘almost’ broke a record. 

Alex Karaban chasing a three-peat & records

Alex Karaban is truly Hurley’s go-to guy on the court. With two championship rings to his name, he has returned for a fifth year, and if his recent performances are any indicator, he’s on track to make history. In the game against Sacred Heart, he edged closer to Donovan Clingan’s single-game NCAA tournament block record. 

Clingan, who’s now with the Portland Trail Blazers, couldn’t resist a playful call-out, telling Karaban, “I didn’t leave school for you to break my shot-blocking record!” But with seven blocks, the Huskies star is inching closer to that record.

With Dan Hurley’s “obsessed” mentality rubbing off on him, he just might get there. For Hurley, Karaban represents the heart of this new Huskies team. His mantra is all about being “obsessed” with the pursuit of excellence, not just for the veterans but for the entire squad. 

As the 22-year-old put it, “No matter how the past two years went…we want more.” Because UConn coach’s coaching philosophy doesn’t just rest on past glories. The journey to a three-peat is never easy, but if they keep up the momentum, UConn might just create history.