Dan Hurley believes one UConn star is being overlooked

Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies are preparing for a 2025-26 NCAA season in which they will no longer be the defending champions after securing back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.

After a 77-75 loss to the eventual 2025 champions Florida Gators, the Huskies are set to bounce back and challenge for the title again. They retained important pieces such as Tarris Reed Jr., Solo Ball and Jaylin Stewart. 

Their leader for the new season will be Alex Karaban, who Hurley believes can have a breakout year in his fourth campaign in college basketball. The forward averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in 2024-25, but his efforts weren’t enough to take his team to a third consecutive championship. 

Dan Hurley warns about Alex Karaban’s mentality after being overlooked

The lack of success last season might have cost him a lot of attention and hype for the upcoming one. Hurley believes Karaban deserves more praise than he’s gotten so far, predicting that the forward is bound to make a statement.

Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies

After a Friday scrimmage, Hurley told reporters that Karaban is overlooked, but that lack of attention has helped his mentality ahead of an important season.

“Alex looks great,” Hurley said. “I think he’s coming into the season under the radar, and I think he’ll respond better mentally to that. What he went through last year has mentally prepared him. There’s a mental toughness you develop when you go through a year like we had as a team.”

The Huskies have unfinished business, and Karaban’s apparent disrespect might add fuel to a hurt team.