Alex Karaban opens up on how Dan Hurley helped him recover from the "lowest of lows" in his UConn career

The No. 14 UConn Huskies secured their fifth SEC victory of the season with a 68-60 win over Georgetown. This marked a strong comeback for junior star Alex Karaban, who returned to top form after a rough stretch of games.

Karaban had been under scrutiny after missing two crucial free throws in UConn’s 68-66 loss to Villanova, which ended their eight-game winning streak. However, he rebounded impressively against Georgetown, leading the game with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. He showcased efficient shooting, going 7-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, all while playing 40 minutes.

“That was probably the lowest of lows that I have had in my UConn career,” Karaban said of the Villanova game following the Huskies' win over Georgetown

In Monday's episode of the Connecticut Scoreboard Podcast with host Jared Kotler, Karaban shared how the unwavering support from the coaching staff and his teammates helped him move forward.

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"Immediately right after the game, we got into the locker room, and he just hyped me up and just instilled that confidence. Just being like, ‘We’re all by your side,’ and just saying that, ‘I’m still a champ,’ and just really hyping me up as the player that I am,” Karaban said.

He also described the consistent encouragement he received.

"He talked to me on the airplane ride back; he texted me in the morning; he talked to me during practice. Just what he was saying in front of the team and in front of everybody—it just meant the entire world to me. He really supported me through it all and just uplifted my confidence," Karaban added.

Karaban highlighted how the entire team rallied around him after the tough loss to Villanova.

"The coaches—every single coach—texted me, talked to me, and all my teammates had my back, obviously. It really meant a lot to me. If I didn’t have that support or confidence heading into Georgetown, I don’t think I would have been able to play as well," he shared.

When Kotler joked about Coach Hurley’s advice for Karaban to reflect on his past successes, Karaban responded with a smile.

"I played with the rings, went through the memories. I went through the camera roll—just the memories of everything. Just the first national championship, all the good moments, the good games. That was really all I could do because I, for sure, did not touch social media, and I didn’t text people back that tried supporting me," Karaban said.

The Huskies and Karaban now turn their attention to their next matchup against Creighton on Jan. 18, at 12 p.m. at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.

Karaban shines in victory over Georgetown

UConn extended its dominance over Georgetown, winning all nine matchups since rejoining the Big East in the 2020-21 season. Alex Karaban was the driving force behind the Huskies' return to the win column.

Karaban delivered a game-high 19 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also contributed six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal, all while playing the full 40 minutes without rest. Karaban was particularly impressive in the second half, scoring 12 points and going a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, thrilling the 17,168 fans at Capital One Arena in Washington.

Karaban has consistently excelled against Georgetown, averaging 23.3 points and shooting an outstanding 66.7% (14-of-21) from deep in his last three games against the Hoyas.

His performance against Georgetown was a promising sign that he’s breaking out of his recent offensive struggles. In UConn’s narrow three-point win over Providence, Karaban managed 13 points, four rebounds, four blocks and three assists but found himself in foul trouble, finishing the game with four fouls.

His prior performance in a two-point loss to Villanova was also below his usual standards, as he scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, committed three turnovers, and missed two critical free throws with 3.1 seconds left—potentially costing UConn the game.

“I practice free throws all the time, and with everything in general, I work my (butt) off. It sucked, but I had to have a quick turnaround and respond as the type of player that I am.”

With the win over Georgetown, the Huskies improve to 5-1 in conference play and 13-4 overall.