UConn's Dan Hurley Praises Alex Karaban as One of Program's Greatest

Karaban's emotional Senior Day performance and induction into Huskies of Honor earn high praise from head coach

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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UConn men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley lauded senior guard Alex Karaban as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Huskies uniform after Karaban's emotional Senior Day performance and induction into the Huskies of Honor. Karaban scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, to lead UConn to a 71-67 win over Seton Hall on Saturday.

Why it matters

Karaban has been a key contributor to UConn's success over the past four seasons, including helping the Huskies win the national championship in 2023. His induction into the Huskies of Honor, the first for an active player, is a testament to the impact he has had on the program.

The details

Karaban became emotional during the Senior Day ceremony, with tears streaming down his face when he reached Hurley. Hurley said he "lost it" seeing Karaban's reaction, praising him as one of the greatest players to ever wear the UConn uniform. Karaban closed his home career with a 60-6 record at Gampel Pavilion and moved into 10th on the program's all-time scoring list with his 23-point performance against Seton Hall.

  • On February 28, 2026, Karaban played his final home game for UConn on Senior Day.
  • Karaban was inducted into the Huskies of Honor, becoming the 25th men's player and the first active player to receive the distinction.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team, who praised Karaban as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Huskies uniform.

Alex Karaban

A senior guard for the UConn men's basketball team, who scored 23 points in his final home game and was inducted into the Huskies of Honor, the first active player to receive the distinction.

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What they’re saying

“To see him crying like a baby coming out, I just lost it right there when I saw it. He's one of the greatest players that's worn the uniform. There's players that have gone on from here and had careers in the NBA, and there's a lot of them, but when they were in the uniform, who's done more than this guy? Who's done more while they wore the uniform than this guy? Because in sports it all comes down to, 'Did you win for your organization? Did you win championships? Did you win games?'”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Men's Basketball (FOX College Hoops)

What’s next

Karaban and the Huskies will look to continue their strong season and compete for a Big East regular season title and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Alex Karaban's emotional Senior Day performance and induction into the Huskies of Honor highlights his status as one of the greatest players in UConn men's basketball history, having been a key contributor to the program's success over the past four seasons, including a national championship in 2023.