Saturday, January 11, 2025

Karaban, UConn pull off redeeming win at Georgetown

By Connor Wilson (@Conman_815)


WASHINGTON, D.C. — Losing a game in the fashion UConn did Wednesday at Villanova may be the worst way to take a defeat in basketball. To have a victory in your hand just for something that had never happened before to occur is a situation you just don’t think of happening. It can be draining.


It could also be easy to lose all confidence for games going forward, or it could be the complete opposite and give you motivation to complete the job the next opportunity you get.


The Huskies went with the latter on Saturday.


UConn trekked down to Washington, D.C. and handled a talented Georgetown team, 68-60, a game that wasn’t as close as the final score depicted.


“We had a heartbreaker in the last one, but it was great,” Dan Hurley said. “What helped us a lot was coming into a UConn-Georgetown game. Walking through the tunnel today was just an awesome feeling with where the Georgetown program is, and to be able to play a big road game against Georgetown, that kind of energized us.”


If you don’t know how UConn’s last game ended and are confused by the opening paragraphs, Alex Karaban missed two free throws with 3.1 seconds remaining Wednesday, with the Huskies trailing by one. It was the first time Karaban had ever missed two consecutive free throws in his college career. Naturally, the redshirt junior responded Saturday with 19 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting and 4-for-6 three-point display. He played all 40 minutes and left everything he had on the court.


“(He’s) one of the greatest players in UConn history,” Hurley praised. “When we get this type of response from him today, it shows that he’s one of the best players in college basketball.”


“That was probably the lowest of lows in my UConn career,” Karaban said. “(You) have to have a quick turnaround and respond. That’s the type of player I am.”


In the first half, the game was neck and neck. A packed Capital One Arena, the largest Georgetown crowd at the arena since 2015, was really into it. The visiting Huskies only led by four at the break and both teams traded punches. A switch flipped in the visiting locker room, however. The Huskies stormed out to an 11-1 run out of the intermission before Ed Cooley was forced to call a timeout. By that point, the run had expanded to 17-2.


“We wanted to respond and play championship basketball,” Karaban said. “That’s who we are as a program and we did that exactly. We built off that run into the rest of the second half.”


The shots kept falling early in the second stanza for the Huskies. Solo Ball added some tough buckets and Samson Johnson had some vicious slams. Jayden Ross caught a lob from Hassan Diarra from near halfcourt. The first 12-13 minutes or so looked like 2022-24 UConn against 2022-24 Georgetown, or at least something similar, with complete domination from the visitors in white (the Hoyas were sporting their tidal blue uniforms, hence the home attire for the Huskies). Then, the Huskies took the foot off the gas.


Numerous possessions over the final 7-8 minutes ended in poor shot attempts, airballs that turned into shot clock violations, or turnovers. After getting the lead to its largest margin of 23, UConn was outscored 19-4 the rest of the game and looked very uncharacteristic of what the Huskies have been like over the past few seasons. Even with that, they still held on for a much-needed victory.


“Sometimes when you win eight in a row, you forget how brutal you feel when you lose one,” Hurley said. “We’d forgotten that feeling of Maui and what that felt like. I thought we played with hunger today.”


Even when the offense hit a standstill, Karaban stayed consistent and poised. One of the winningest players in program history, even after a tough defeat, he keeps his head up and rallies the troops, something a leader should do.


“This is a completely different Georgetown team than it was last year,” Karaban said. “We had to respond and show up, really had to leave that tough loss behind and lock in for the win.”


The relationship that Karaban has built with Hurley was another major reason he was able to contribute in the way he did against the Hoyas. After the Villanova loss, Hurley joked that Karaban should “play with his championship rings” once he gets back, which Karaban jokingly confirmed he did. It may have been a rare negative moment on his ledger, but he was able to put it behind him.


“I work my ass off, and for that to happen, it sucked,” Karaban said. “Credit to Coach. He was supportive and by my side the entire time. I don’t think I’d be able to have the performance I had today without him.”


Hurley usually has high praise for the opponents after games, but he especially had some for Cooley and Georgetown, and the direction in which the Hoya program is going.


“I came in here as a player,” Hurley said. “I had my shot blocked by (Alonzo) Mourning and (Dikembe) Mutombo, then I got destroyed by (Allen Iverson),” Hurley said. “The Big East cannot survive and continue to compete for NCAA championships and tournament bids without Ed Cooley here. They’re coming.”


The last time Hurley used a rendition of “it’s coming” in a press conference, we all know what happened next. With young stars such as Thomas Sorber and Malik Mack, the Hoyas may not be far off.


The Huskies have a bye in the Big East schedule this week before returning to action next Saturday for a noon tip at Gampel Pavilion against Creighton.

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