NEW YORK – It is rare for a player to represent his team at a conference media day three years in a row. But Alex Karaban’s career has been pretty unique.
He was suited up at Madison Square Garden beside Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer ahead of his second national championship season in October 2023. Last fall before his junior year, the only returning starter from both title teams, he was joined by Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson.
On Tuesday, Karaban was in high demand and a bit late to his seat between Tarris Reed Jr. and Solo Ball, who were representing the Huskies at the league’s preseason event for the first time.
“It’s awesome,” the veteran captain said, swarmed by a media contingent multiple layers deep in all directions. “It’s always an honor. Being at Big East Media Day is special just knowing that the season is around the corner. You see all of the other great players and great coaches, programs. Knowing our first game is less than two weeks away now to officially start the season, it’s exciting.”
With the “Big Three” representing on Tuesday and a deep complementary roster, UConn has a chance to compete for its third title in Karaban’s four-year career.
UConn men’s basketball voted No. 2 in Big East preseason poll, lands four on all-league teams
And he could set multiple program records along the way.
Karaban is 25 starts away from tying the program’s all-time record, set at 135 games by Jake Voskhul from 1996-2000. He has the fifth-highest career free throw percentage in program history (84.1%), is 61 made 3-pointers shy of Rashad Anderson’s record (276, 2002-06), and is 569 points away from surpassing Ray Allen (1,922) and moving into the program’s top-five all-time in scoring.
“He represents what’s great about sports,” coach Dan Hurley said. “It’s work ethic, sacrifice, winning, being responsible, leading by example, it’s being about team, front of jersey – that’s not going to get him any endorsement deals because, unfortunately in society today that’s not as celebrated as it should be. This guy should have so many campaigns leading into the year, this guy is legitimately attempting to be the most accomplished college basketball player since the players that played at UCLA in the 60s and 70s. This guy has a legitimate chance to win three championships in four years as a starting player and as an integral part of those teams. Unfortunately, Alex is not dancing around, dropping Tik Toks in here so his story probably isn’t told as much in our society today because it’s too many old school values, which is sad.”
Ball was thrilled to be part of his first media day, and potentially his last if he can reach his goal of becoming an All-American and a first-round draft pick this season.
“It’s an honor to be here just to represent UConn, represent the name on the back of my jersey but more importantly just representing UConn,” Ball said. “Being around, seeing all of the other teams… I’m really happy to be here. It’s just surreal, to be honest.”
For Reed, media day was a reminder that his final season of college basketball is right around the corner.
“Feeling like an old, old guy now,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy.”
Health update
After injuring his hamstring, missing about two weeks, returning for a few days of practice and injuring it again, the Huskies are hoping Reed will be ready for the Nov. 3 season-opener.
“(I’m) hanging in there, day-by-day,” he reported. “It’s getting better, I just can’t wait to be back on the court with the guys… No clue (when I’ll be back), it’s like week-by-week. Taking my time with it, making sure when I come back I’m going to be at 110% … It sucks. It’s one of the worst feelings. But I know there’s a purpose for it and it’s challenging me to be more of a leader off the court. I just can’t wait to get back.”
Hurley said point guard Silas Demary Jr., who also missed the first exhibition against Boston College with a calf injury, returned to practice.
International infusion
There are several different accents – German, Australian, Turkish, Serbian – lifting the Huskies’ locker room this season.
Rrezon Elezaj – the 7-foot-1 Serbian freshman nicknamed “The Razor,” because Hurley can’t pronounce his name – turned 18 years old in May and is one of the funnier locker room guys, Karaban and Reed agreed. They also tabbed graduate guards Alec Millender and Malachi Smith, from the Chicago and New York City areas, respectively, as jokesters.
On the court, Reed has seen aspects of the international game translate.
“You can definitely see the international game in a lot of the players: the skill, the touch, the foundation. My man Uros (Paunovic, from Turkey) in practice, throwing these crazy passes that no one on the court has received before. My man Eric (Reibe) has touch for days, his touch is so elite. I can’t wait to see what these guys do,” he said, noting that he’s seen also seen Jacob Furphy play the guard position with “elite pace.”
Big East strength and sleepers
Hurley didn’t cast his own vote projecting the league’s standings, but he did offer some opinions.
“Strength, Creighton is right there for me with us and St. John’s and Marquette, with what Shaka (Smart’s) built there with that culture and getting (Sean) Jones back, I think they’ll be right there again. I really like what Kim (English) and Ed (Cooley) have done, I think Providence and Georgetown will be right there as well, and that’s just off of top of brain, I know I’m gonna give some people some bulletin board material,” he said. “I like to see Shaheen (Holloway), I’m watching a lot of Shaheen’s press conferences and I see a guy that’s excited to coach his team, so I’m excited about the league this year.”
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