Saturday’s meeting with Seton Hall will be an emotional one.
It will mark the end of an era for Alex Karaban, the winningest player in program history. After going through the Senior Day ceremony last year, the two-time national champion returned to Storrs for one last dance.
It has been a long journey for Karaban. He enrolled midway through the 2021-22 season and redshirted while practicing to get a head start leading into his redshirt-freshman season.
“I’m trying to enjoy every second I have left in this jersey and with this program,” he said after a 32-point win over No. 15 St. John’s on Wednesday.
He did not even start that first game he played in. In the 85-54 rout over Stonehill, the Huskies’ lineup was Tristen Newton, Nahiem Alleyne, Jordan Hawkins, Samson Johnson and Adama Sanogo. Johnson ended up suffering a foot injury after 17 minutes and did not return to the floor until Jan. 22, 2023. This forced Dan Hurley to elevate Karaban to the starting lineup. In every game that he has been healthy for, Karaban has remained the starting power forward ever since.
“When I first came to UConn, I was worried about playing,” Karaban said after becoming the winningest player in program history. “To have my name at the top of that list is special. I’ll forever be blessed for all the teammates I’ve had; I’ll forever be blessed to play for the best coaching staff that’s made it easier to get those wins, too.”
Karaban was among the best freshmen in the Big East that year, averaging 9.3 points per game, shooting 47.6% from the floor, 40.2% from deep and 80.9% from the free throw line. He was a crucial piece in the Huskies’ quest for a fifth national championship. Just look back at the halftime buzzer-beaters he had against Gonzaga and Miami (Fla.) during that run.
He could have left after that first season. He could have left after his redshirt-sophomore season, averaging 13.3 points on nearly 50% overall shooting as he helped the Huskies complete the back-to-back championship hopes. Everyone remembers where they were during that 30-0 run in the Elite Eight against Illinois, seeing Karaban dunk on the fast break.
Even though the 2024-25 season was a roller-coaster, including some of the lowest moments in Karaban’s decorated career, he still could have gone to the NBA.
But, through all of that, he stayed. He stayed despite all the NBA talk and the current state of college basketball. It is a rarity, with virtually every team now utilizing the transfer portal and NBA teams targeting freshmen and sophomore prospects with sky-high potential.
“I know the NBA can be here next year and in the future,” Karaban said in October. “But you can’t really get your years back at UConn, with how much love the coaches and fans have given me.”
The fans will honor Karaban on Saturday with a “Karabanner.” Organized by the Husky Ticket Project, fans are invited to write messages on a giant banner from 10 to 11 a.m., thanking him for everything he did throughout his career.
He is no stranger to the festivities. He went through Senior Day last season, coincidentally against Seton Hall, after graduating from UConn in three years with a degree in economics. Academically, he is expected to earn a certificate in nonprofit management once his college career is all said and done.
Karaban is not the only player who will go through Senior Day this weekend. Tarris Reed Jr., Malachi Smith, Dwayne Koroma and Alec Millender are all being honored in their final game at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
Reed is coming off arguably the best game of his career: 20 points, 11 rebounds, six rebounds, three assists and two steals on 9-of-14 shooting. He may not have been in Storrs as long as Karaban has, but the “Kodiak Bear” has become a fan-favorite in his two seasons as a Husky.
“I was a little kid dreaming, never in a million years I thought I would be playing here at UConn, so it’s a blessing to play along these guys,” Reed said on Wednesday. “It’s all I could ever dream for and pray for. So, [I am] forever grateful.”
Then there are the players who just came in this year: Malachi Smith, Dwayne Koroma and Alec Millender.
Smith, coming in from Dayton, slid into the role that Hassan Diarra was in during the 2023-24 season, backing up Silas Demary Jr. at point guard. He came in clutch in some of the Huskies’ most crucial games. There was the game at Madison Square Garden against Illinois, where he had 14 points and nine assists while knocking down all three of his 3-point attempts. The win at home against Providence saw him notch double figures for the second time this season, finishing with 12 points and seven assists while connecting on all four 3-pointers.
Koroma has not seen as much playing time lately, but he was a massive help in the non-conference portion of the season. While the stats may not tell the story, the Le Moyne transfer held his own in the paint against some of the nation’s best centers: Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas and Kansas’s Flory Bidunga. While Reed missed a handful of those non-conference games while dealing with injuries, Koroma stepped up and came off the bench to provide some crucial minutes while Eric Reibe was on the bench.
Then, there is Millender. He has not played many games this season, but his locker room and bench presence alone have provided the team with a spark in some of the thrilling wins this season. His impact on the team, especially in terms of the team’s chemistry, is better shown off the court, with him serving as commissioner of a Dynasty Deep Dive league on EA Sports’ College Football ‘26.
Saturday marks the end of an era, but the journey is not over. There are still three championships to play: the Big East regular season title, the Big East Tournament and the national championship.