UConn’s Alex Karaban started his career with 2 NCAA titles. He’ll close with a chance at a 3rd

INDIANAPOLIS — The word “legacy” hovers over the final hours of Alex Karaban’s playing career at UConn.

The redshirt senior started his career with back-to-back championship seasons so perfect they still feel “like a dream.” He’ll close it with a chance to win a third NCAA title with Monday’s finale against Michigan, an accomplishment not seen in a half-century, since the days of UCLA’s peak domination under John Wooden.

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And seemingly just as rare, he’s spent an entire four-year playing career at one school in a time of constant player movement through the transfer portal and players bolting early to chase pro-playing careers, making him practically a unicorn in today’s era.

It all comes down now to how the versatile 23-year-old — the lead-by-example veteran dubbed the team’s “babysitter” by coach Dan Hurley — finishes this tale in Indianapolis.

“You dream of being on this stage one time, and to be heading into it for a third time, it’s a blessing,” Karaban said Sunday.

“I’ve always wanted to come back to win, to win championships, and to leave a legacy that’s unmatched in college basketball.”

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Winning plays

Karaban is 18-1 in three NCAA Tournament appearances going back to cutting down the nets in 2023 and 2024, along with last year’s narrow second-round loss to eventual champion Florida amid the crushing pressure of chasing a three-peat.

That puts him in a tie for second on the all-time list of tournament wins as a starter with his coach’s older brother — former Duke point guard Bobby Hurley — and trailing only Blue Devils great Christian Laettner (21).

Saturday’s win against Illinois in the national semifinal marked his 150th game at UConn, leading all high-major players in games played at one school.

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If the Huskies can beat the Wolverines, Karaban would become only the 10th player to win three NCAA titles after playing in the championship game, according to SportRadar. The other nine…

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Publish date : 2026-04-06 01:33:00

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