Alex Karaban was a key part of the run in the second round as UConn defeated UCLA 73-57 in a game where more was expected from their opponent. That did not happen. After advancing to the Sweet 16, Karaban made it clear how far he is willing to go.
“I gotta do whatever it takes to lead this team,” he said to CBS after the win over UCLA. “I mean, I’ve said it before. I’m the most experienced in college basketball, just with what I have done over four years. So just help this team through the good and the bad, really just make sure everyone is relaxed out there, just trying to make everyone’s job easier.”
And he backed it up. Karaban delivered when it mattered most. He posted a career-high 27 points in the win over UCLA, five more than he had against Furman in the first round when the Huskies won 82-71. A big part of that performance came from his four three-pointers in the game.
Defense has been key, according to Karaban
The veteran forward, who already knows what it takes to win in March Madness, said focus has made the difference. Especially on defense. When that effort is combined with the team’s offensive firepower, UConn becomes difficult to beat.
“I mean, when we are locked in defensively, we are tough and rebound well. I feel we can compete with anybody, and we have so much firepower offensively that can be tough for other teams to guard. But we gotta take it one game at a time. We respect every opponent we face,” Karaban said.
Next up for UConn is a matchup against Michigan State, which reached the Sweet 16 after eliminating Louisville. The history between these programs is limited. They have played just eight times since 1998 with a 4-4 record. The last meeting came on November 25, 2021, when UConn fell 64-60 in the Bahamas.
Karaban has also cemented his place in UConn history. He moved past Corny Thompson for sixth on the program’s all-time scoring list. The sharpshooter now has his sights set on Ray Allen in the top five, continuing to build on a career defined by wins, games played and starts during one of the most successful eras in school history.