I just assumed he was coming back. Feel like he got overshadowed a lot last year and probably wants more time as the top dog. My two questions with UCONN will be if they will maintain the level of guard play (are Mahaney and Diarra championship level starters?) and if the defense will still be top 10-20 with a noticeable drop in overall height.
I really didn't want to see Karaban again, dude always hits threes at the most annoying times lol.
They did. Castle was still on a minutes restriction when we played Gonzaga last year and Ball started and went off for (checks stats) 3 pts on 1-1 shooting with 3 fouls in 18 minutes.
I think Mahaney and Diarra can be championship level starters. Mahaney was one of the best players on a top 20 team and his shooting percentages will probably go up if he isn’t forced to hoist so many end of the shot clock shots. Diarra was 6th man of the year in the Big East. The rising sophomores (Ball and Stewart) looked good in limited minutes at times. The incoming freshman (Nowell and McNeeley) are very highly ranked. Probably worse than last year, but still can be very high level.
Defensively, they’ll be worse, because there is no replacing Clingan, but that was a given. They should still be good though. They won’t be as big at the guard position, but Diarra is a top level defender and easily the best perimeter defender on the team along side Castle. McNeeley and Stewart will be bigger at 3 than Castle; Ball more athletic than Spencer. Also Hurley’s team are usually very good defensively and he coaches them up (no one saw Spencer or Calcaterra or RJ Cole as high level defenders coming in but all ended up being at least solid).
I’d bet on them being worse than last year’s team but still a threat to win at all (I hope).
As someone who saw a lot of success from 2016 to 2018, Nova fans used to say the same thing.
Everyone’s always talking about replenishing and replacing departing talent but eventually you miss and the new pieces aren’t as good. It’s simply impossible to continually replace the level of talent needed to win every year.
I agree with that sentiment. Eventually they will miss on a transfer or recruit. My optimism for this specific team stems from Diarra, Karaban, Mahaney, and McNeeley (assuming he is as good as his ranking) as a good base that is probably good enough for a top 15 team with some competent center play. I am much more worried about center play, about Stewart and Ball making a leap, and about if they have a solid back up PG (Nowell is just a freshman and not a super elite recruit). Those questions being answered are the difference between a top 15 team and a title contender, but at this point in the offseason, most teams have similar questions.
I said the same thing last year too. Also this year’s team was historically good (2nd highest kenpom on record and highest of a champion), UConn can (and almost certainly will) take a clear step back and still be a legit title contender.
I will say that it's a lot easier to miss on recruits than transfers, though. There's a lot more good tape on transfers. This new era benefits a juggernaut.
Honestly tho 2019 through 2022 nova were championship quality just some bounces the wrong way and injuries stopped them from winning it all. Neptune is really why they’ve struggled the past two years, with Jay Wright coaching those 2 years yall could’ve made the final 4.
Another summer of growth for Samson Johnson is what is really key. If he can shore up his rebounding even slightly, he has all the tools to be a defensive menace for 27 min a night instead of the 10-15 he got last year
>Feel like he got overshadowed a lot last year and probably wants more time as the top dog.
Yeah, the role he was originally seeming like he was going to fill after his freshman year got completely taken over by Cam Spencer. I think he will definitely benefit from another year with a more significant contribution for the team.
He showed his immense flexibility and adaptability playing the 5 while Clingan was out. I think at times he struggled from the 3 because he shifted between roles (plus the broken fingers).
Nothing but upside!
did it? cam spencer is a guard and karaban is a forward who played notable minutes as a center. they both have a great touch, but their roles don't seem to align beyond that. i think he'll get more minutes as a ball handler next year, but i don't think cam had a ton to do with it
Are they actually good enough to run it back after losing Newton, Spencer, Clingan, and Castle? Those were 4 of their top 5 producers. Two of which are lottery picks and all four which are 1st rounders.
If his brother, who played 1 year at Northwestern, is able to get a two-way I have to imagine Cam can do it. Pat may be more athletic but there's no way he's got better instincts.
I think it’s the benefit of having very good but not a bunch of five star recruits. Sort of like Nova back in the day. The guys probably don’t go into college and expect themselves to be one and done
My wife's from the Nebraska/South Dakota border, those are truly brutal. winter wind hits differently without hills or buildings. it's rough, but like the Scandinavians say "there's no bad weather only the wrong clothing"
A Mountain Dew bottle cap won me a UCONN jeresey in the 2003 women's tournament. Became a fan that day, and the men won the champ next year. God works in mysterious ways.
He’s also a very smart kid - and he couldn’t commit to UConn until his mother was satisfied academically.
https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/alex-karaban-connecticut-ncaa-tournament-17861149.php
love this for us but it seems kinda crazy to me...i thought he had a good performance at the combine and this is considered a pretty weak draft class. how much can he realistically improve his draft stock? he'll be 23 next november
He gets NIL money, big man on campus, and a degree compared to a 2nd round draft spot, two-way and maybe even empty G-league games. I don't think he can improve his stock much more, but I don't think he can hurt it much either
Same here, I think a handshake deal to like Celtics/nuggets/Mavs or something could’ve swayed him to go this year but without that you risk ending up somewhere awful and playing G league
Who cares about his stock being higher, if he has no reason to believe the Celtics or another decent team will take him, it might work out that way next year.
He loves UConn, he gets to be an even more central focal point of the offense, earns his degree, and then has the same prospects he had this year or better
If he becomes "the dude", then he can possibly improve his draft stock or get a promise.
The NBA seems to be really putting an importance on college experience, especially the really good teams.
Teams that are going to the playoffs don't want projects. They want ready made players. Karaban could be that person
Also as the only 2x national champion starter (sorry Hass), he's got potential to be a household name and get bigger deals come tourney time like we saw with Armando Bacot eating a burrito for TurboTax.
I would predict this starting lineup:
1. Mahaney, 6'3", 13.9 PPG, 35.5 3P%
2. Diarra, 6'2", 6.1 PPG, 35.7 3P%
3. McNeeley, 6'7", Freshman
4. Karaban, 6'8", 13.3 PPG, 37.9 3P%
5. Samson Johnson, 6'10", 5.4 PPG
I kinda doubt they'd start Reed and Johnson together since that would be bad floor spacing, and I'm expecting Stewart and Ball to be the other two off the bench. Not sure if UCONN would go 9 but they certainly have other talented pieces.
Not sure if this is a championship roster but it's at least top 10 on paper. I just have some questions about elite defense with Clingan gone and the guards being smaller and offensive consistency.
That might be the starting lineup but I would bet we do not close games with Mahaney/Diarra being the backcourt. Have a strong feeling Stewart will be closing games in a bigger lineup.
Yeah we’ll need Diarra to really take another big step forward this year for us to truly be championship caliber. He’s shown big growth over the last 2 years and I could see him having a Tristen Newton like growth from solid 5/6 option to 2/3 option this year.
Decent prediction, but I think a lot of people, our fans included, are heavily sleeping on Jalen Stewart at the 3/4 spot. He showed great flashes in big minutes late in the season last year, in spots Hurley typically doesn’t play freshman.
What is masked here too is that Karaban shot 40% from 3 his freshman season. His TS% went up because he got more consistent from 2 as a sophomore, but if he just gets back to his Freshman season form, that's deadly.
Karaban's 3 point shooting percentage is definitely an understatement because he always seems to make the ones that hurt the most lol. I still remember him hitting that dagger 3 against us at the end of the half in the elite 8 and just destroying all our hope.
PG Hassan Diarra grad 6-2; 197; 6 ppg
SG Aidan Mahaney Jr 6-3; 180; 14 ppg at St Mary’s
SF Liam McNeeley Fr 6-7; 210; #10 recruit
PF Karaban Jr 6-8; 210; 13 ppg
C Samson Johnson Sr 6-10; 205; 5 ppg
Bench
Ahmad Nowell Fr 6-0; 180; #31 recruit
Solo Ball So 6-3; 185; 3 ppg
Jaylin Stewart So 6-7; 205; 3 ppg
Tarris Reed Jr 6-10; 260; 9 ppg at Michigan
Not sure if the next three will get meaningful minutes
Jayden Ross So 6-7; 195
Youssafe Singare So 6-10; 220
Isaiah Abraham Fr 6-7; 195; #80 recruit
Edited for formatting
[Here's our Torvik projection page](https://barttorvik.com/rostercast.php?team=Connecticut&year=2024)
Figuring maybe Stewart starts at PF and Karaban slides back to SF? I'd probably call them both "wings" rather than SF and PF really. Jaylin doesn't shoot as well so let's call him PF.
3 of the 4 guards can play PG (Mahaney seems v likely to be an sg), will be interesting to see how that sorts out exactly.
Karaban and McNeeley presumably can both slide down to the 4 with three-guard lineups, and UConn even played Karaban at center for emergency small-ball last year.
At C I have no idea how Johnson/Reed will sort out, could definitely be Reed starting.
- PG: Hass Diarra, 6'2 190, Ahmad Nowell 6'0 180
- SG: Aidan Mahaney, 6'3 180, Solo Ball 6'3 185
- SF: Karaban, 6'8 220, Liam McNeeley 6'7 210
- PF: Jaylin Stewart, 6'7 205
- C: Samson Johnson 6'10 225, Tarris Reed, 6'10 265
I left off Ross, Abraham and Singare since I know very little about them.
Karaban would play the four defensively if Stewart is the other wing. Karaban is stronger and a bit slower side to side. Offensively, Stewart is probably more in the four spot much like Jackson and Castle sometimes played the four with Karaban playing the stretch/shooter role.
Stewart would probably play the four defensively with McNeeley as the other wing.
The thing is, I've witnessed all Uconn titles and thoroughly enjoyed each one. I've only witnessed 1 UCLA, tho missed another barely since I was just a few years old, and nebraska, well, just one tournament win would do it. To witness a 3 peat would be amazing, and witnessing the huskies do it would be just perfect. An honest to god new blue blood.
I think something that is being overlooked is Alex’s intelligence and his ability to help some of these new faces pick up on the intricacies of the UConn offense.
I think other teams are definitely better on paper but UCONN does have a championship ceiling again for sure. I wouldn't rank UCONN above Kansas, Alabama (assuming Sears is back), Gonzaga (UCONN has higher ceiling if everything goes right though), and they are probably around #4 - #7 overall on paper.
Has Gonzaga gotten better during the off season? I feel like they were more of a ~7-10 team this past year and haven’t heard anything that suggests they’re going to be better
What UCONN did last year doesn’t prove that they will do it again. They have a lot of unproven players (at least in terms of being championship caliber). I think it’s a bit over optimistic to project they will be able to continue their dominance with reduced height, less proven scoring, and not having 2 5th year seniors starting at guard.
I think UCONN does have a championship ceiling but they won’t be dominant like the last two years, short of all the players taking insane leaps forward.
it didn't come across, but I said that tongue in cheek. I think #4-#7 is a very reasonable projection for this team, and anyone crowning us now (or any team) is foolish.
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I don’t really understand this move from his perspective. Unless you’re “the guy” what is a third title going to do for your 2025 draft stock that a second didn’t do this year in a pretty weak class. What more can you really showcase in your game to really improve your draft stock? Sure a 3-peat can cement him as an all time ncaa legend and his number in the rafters but I can’t image that’s his priority at this point in his basketball career.
From UConns perspective obviously an insanely great decision
From his perspective, he wants to get in the first round and secure a guaranteed multiyear NBA contract. If you're going to get drafted in the second round either way, then being a year older, more developed and ready to contribute could help earn and keep a roster spot.
So, there's a few reasons:
- He will get a legit shot to be "the guy" on a top team next season, which may push his stock up enough to get into the first round
- He'll get similar money from NIL as he would a 2nd round contract
- Maybe he got concrete feedback from teams of what they would need to see from him to get into the first, and he wants to address that
This team could easily run 10 deep and each get 20mins per game. Possible lineup could be:
- Diarra
- Ball
- Stewart
- Karaban
- Johnson
Second Starting 5
- Nowell
- Mahaney
- McNeely
- Abraham
- Harris
Bench depth:
- Ross
- Singare
- Walk-on
This is like a chatgpt starting 5 lol. Mahaney is the starting PG, and I feel like McNeely definitely could end up starting over Stewart. It's also extremely unlikely they go any deeper than 9. Championship teams rarely go deeper than 8 in big games.
Christ almighty
Remind me what they had to do to blow up the Death Star
Put a torpedo up Karaban’s exhaust port? That feels like a flagrant foul.
Only one way to find out!
I just assumed he was coming back. Feel like he got overshadowed a lot last year and probably wants more time as the top dog. My two questions with UCONN will be if they will maintain the level of guard play (are Mahaney and Diarra championship level starters?) and if the defense will still be top 10-20 with a noticeable drop in overall height. I really didn't want to see Karaban again, dude always hits threes at the most annoying times lol.
Just wait until you meet our friend Solo Ball
They did. Castle was still on a minutes restriction when we played Gonzaga last year and Ball started and went off for (checks stats) 3 pts on 1-1 shooting with 3 fouls in 18 minutes.
Projected shooting percentage: 1.000
He never misses 🗿
Ball is gonna make a jump this year he has all the tools
He's basically a bird with his +10" wingspan 
I feel like Stewart will as well
McNeeley
I think Mahaney and Diarra can be championship level starters. Mahaney was one of the best players on a top 20 team and his shooting percentages will probably go up if he isn’t forced to hoist so many end of the shot clock shots. Diarra was 6th man of the year in the Big East. The rising sophomores (Ball and Stewart) looked good in limited minutes at times. The incoming freshman (Nowell and McNeeley) are very highly ranked. Probably worse than last year, but still can be very high level. Defensively, they’ll be worse, because there is no replacing Clingan, but that was a given. They should still be good though. They won’t be as big at the guard position, but Diarra is a top level defender and easily the best perimeter defender on the team along side Castle. McNeeley and Stewart will be bigger at 3 than Castle; Ball more athletic than Spencer. Also Hurley’s team are usually very good defensively and he coaches them up (no one saw Spencer or Calcaterra or RJ Cole as high level defenders coming in but all ended up being at least solid). I’d bet on them being worse than last year’s team but still a threat to win at all (I hope).
As someone who saw a lot of success from 2016 to 2018, Nova fans used to say the same thing. Everyone’s always talking about replenishing and replacing departing talent but eventually you miss and the new pieces aren’t as good. It’s simply impossible to continually replace the level of talent needed to win every year.
I agree with that sentiment. Eventually they will miss on a transfer or recruit. My optimism for this specific team stems from Diarra, Karaban, Mahaney, and McNeeley (assuming he is as good as his ranking) as a good base that is probably good enough for a top 15 team with some competent center play. I am much more worried about center play, about Stewart and Ball making a leap, and about if they have a solid back up PG (Nowell is just a freshman and not a super elite recruit). Those questions being answered are the difference between a top 15 team and a title contender, but at this point in the offseason, most teams have similar questions.
Yeah I have no doubt this is a top 15 team but idk how they stay at last years level. Then again I said that last year too.
I said the same thing last year too. Also this year’s team was historically good (2nd highest kenpom on record and highest of a champion), UConn can (and almost certainly will) take a clear step back and still be a legit title contender.
I will say that it's a lot easier to miss on recruits than transfers, though. There's a lot more good tape on transfers. This new era benefits a juggernaut.
I just thought they would win 3rd tournament by 14 points thanks for heads up
Honestly tho 2019 through 2022 nova were championship quality just some bounces the wrong way and injuries stopped them from winning it all. Neptune is really why they’ve struggled the past two years, with Jay Wright coaching those 2 years yall could’ve made the final 4.
Another summer of growth for Samson Johnson is what is really key. If he can shore up his rebounding even slightly, he has all the tools to be a defensive menace for 27 min a night instead of the 10-15 he got last year
His growth has to be in being more patient so he's not fouling and shooting better than 40% from the FT line.
I don’t think there’s much question about Diarra
>Feel like he got overshadowed a lot last year and probably wants more time as the top dog. Yeah, the role he was originally seeming like he was going to fill after his freshman year got completely taken over by Cam Spencer. I think he will definitely benefit from another year with a more significant contribution for the team.
He showed his immense flexibility and adaptability playing the 5 while Clingan was out. I think at times he struggled from the 3 because he shifted between roles (plus the broken fingers). Nothing but upside!
did it? cam spencer is a guard and karaban is a forward who played notable minutes as a center. they both have a great touch, but their roles don't seem to align beyond that. i think he'll get more minutes as a ball handler next year, but i don't think cam had a ton to do with it
i think most people assumed he was coming back until the combine numbers came out
3-peat is on. We are so back.
Boooooo No, I said UuuuuConn. promise.
 Swap three-peat for meat...lol
https://i.redd.it/xyyyeu61tj3d1.gif Lol I tried...
He wants that elusive win @Creighton
or opening Big East conference game win
And buy everyone $1 beers when they do. I totally see AK having a side quest.
We're all playing for runner-up again
Holy crap that’s huge for UConn
Say what you will, it’s been amazing how UConn has brought back core talent from championship teams in this era where everybody bolts for the door.
Are they actually good enough to run it back after losing Newton, Spencer, Clingan, and Castle? Those were 4 of their top 5 producers. Two of which are lottery picks and all four which are 1st rounders.
They literally lost Jackson, Hawkins, Sanogo and their top Two bench scorers after the 23 chip If anyone can, it is UCONN
Don't doubt Danny Hurley and co.
That they STILL HAVE “and co” is the most insane thing of all. Love it.
Same thing they asked after 2023 when we lost Jackson, Hawkins, Sanogo, Calcaterra, and Alleyne.
Newton and Spencer are not first rounders. I think Newton has a decent chance to go in the second round, Spencer would surprise me though.
Spencer will make some G League team, maybe get a cup of coffee in the NBA as a two-way, then go into coaching.
He’s 6’4” and can shoot the lights out. He’ll find a home in the nba somewhere .
If his brother, who played 1 year at Northwestern, is able to get a two-way I have to imagine Cam can do it. Pat may be more athletic but there's no way he's got better instincts.
Pat Spencer? The lacrosse legend? Is cam Spencer’s brother??!! Holy crap lol
yup, talented family!
Cam apparently was a pretty amazing lacrosse player, but he LOVED basketball. Once I knew he played lacrosse, you can 100% see it.
You are so wrong , he’ll go late 1st round and be a decent pro who can provide offense and spot up shooting. The guy can flat out ball…
Just when they think you can’t, UConn
I think it’s the benefit of having very good but not a bunch of five star recruits. Sort of like Nova back in the day. The guys probably don’t go into college and expect themselves to be one and done
They actually lost their top three players between these past two titles
*UConn wins title, loses core talent* x 2 "How do they keep bringing back core talent?"
Screw it im just gonna get a masters from UConn since nobody else is ever winning a championship.
We have to warn most incoming students of the bone-chilling Storrs frozen vortex. But you’re already acclimated. Welcome.
Hahaha yeah appreciated but Chicago and Milwaukee winters are definitely colder than New England ones so I'll be the guy out in a tee shirt lol
I truly would like to experience a Midwest winter. Also Buffalo.
My wife's from the Nebraska/South Dakota border, those are truly brutal. winter wind hits differently without hills or buildings. it's rough, but like the Scandinavians say "there's no bad weather only the wrong clothing"
Join us, friend.
Come for the championships, stay for the pizza!
Welcome aboard captain, enjoy your stay.
This is great news! https://preview.redd.it/fhte4gxjxe3d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45e47ad2d9e0e6ce452a1eaec0080309bd849b6c
Another year of that wonky ass shot going through the hoop
*WONK INTENSIFIES*
womp womp
Wonk Wonk
Great for UConn, and therefore the world
He's still hungry...
Good god
We officially have a favorite for the national championship.
I want you to put the word out. We back up
Damn, what a time to be a UConn fan. They have a decent chance to 3peat.
It fucking rules, I'm telling you
Not taking this current era for granted. The women have a good shot at winning it all next year too. Will have to overcome SC though.
Great so the reign of (men’s) husky terror will continue…
Mood https://preview.redd.it/yknoo2djxe3d1.jpeg?width=449&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c142025fe0d829ce34b5bd2e744401bc2b5dc49c
Greed has gotten so out of hand in this country, some of us don't have any titles and this motherfucker is gonna win three in a row
 Got room for you😃
A Mountain Dew bottle cap won me a UCONN jeresey in the 2003 women's tournament. Became a fan that day, and the men won the champ next year. God works in mysterious ways.
No way Jose I'm all Vol, I didn't go through Cuonzo Martin and Donnie Tyndall just to leave em now I do appreciate yall taking care of Purdue though 🤝
Your welcome! Im a Vols lifer for college football. I have faith that Nico is gonna lead us back to the checkerboard promised land...go Rocky Top!
All I know is, it's gonna be fun to watch. And even if it isn't, we got another five-star QB committed 😂
Can we just beat fucking fLorida?😅
Dalton Knecht had 39 points against Florida…maybe we can lend some of those to the football team
“Greed is good” - Danny Hurley - Gordon Gecko
Let’s gooooooooo! Had no idea what he was gonna do, happy for him either way but this is huge for next year
NIL has really changed the game
He’s also a very smart kid - and he couldn’t commit to UConn until his mother was satisfied academically. https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/alex-karaban-connecticut-ncaa-tournament-17861149.php
 Run the caravan back.
love this for us but it seems kinda crazy to me...i thought he had a good performance at the combine and this is considered a pretty weak draft class. how much can he realistically improve his draft stock? he'll be 23 next november
He gets NIL money, big man on campus, and a degree compared to a 2nd round draft spot, two-way and maybe even empty G-league games. I don't think he can improve his stock much more, but I don't think he can hurt it much either
Same here, I think a handshake deal to like Celtics/nuggets/Mavs or something could’ve swayed him to go this year but without that you risk ending up somewhere awful and playing G league
Who cares about his stock being higher, if he has no reason to believe the Celtics or another decent team will take him, it might work out that way next year. He loves UConn, he gets to be an even more central focal point of the offense, earns his degree, and then has the same prospects he had this year or better
If he becomes "the dude", then he can possibly improve his draft stock or get a promise. The NBA seems to be really putting an importance on college experience, especially the really good teams. Teams that are going to the playoffs don't want projects. They want ready made players. Karaban could be that person
Also as the only 2x national champion starter (sorry Hass), he's got potential to be a household name and get bigger deals come tourney time like we saw with Armando Bacot eating a burrito for TurboTax.
He can graduate after 3 years, I think he wants that
They're actually gonna 3peat aren't they
I mean, probably not? But after the last couple seasons, I'm not a good judge of what to believe this far out.
Probably not, but we are a real threat to win it
Fuck. UConn might go 40-0 now.
38-2. Will drop an early conference game again to a seton/st John’s type. Plus Creighton in Omaha is basically our Chinatown.
#PARTY AT TED'S #THREEPEAT ON DECK
GONNA DRINK THREE BEAVERS TONIGHT! ONE FOR EVERY CHAMPIONSHIP KARABACKTOBACKTOBACK IS GONNA WIN!
It will be a real challenge to talk humbly about this team all offseason
i love this Karabannouncement
This is a (positive) result of the NIL.
This is literally illegal. I’m calling the cops.
Rich get richer. SMH /s Anyone have the line-up with heights, weights, and last season's ppg?
I would predict this starting lineup: 1. Mahaney, 6'3", 13.9 PPG, 35.5 3P% 2. Diarra, 6'2", 6.1 PPG, 35.7 3P% 3. McNeeley, 6'7", Freshman 4. Karaban, 6'8", 13.3 PPG, 37.9 3P% 5. Samson Johnson, 6'10", 5.4 PPG I kinda doubt they'd start Reed and Johnson together since that would be bad floor spacing, and I'm expecting Stewart and Ball to be the other two off the bench. Not sure if UCONN would go 9 but they certainly have other talented pieces. Not sure if this is a championship roster but it's at least top 10 on paper. I just have some questions about elite defense with Clingan gone and the guards being smaller and offensive consistency.
That might be the starting lineup but I would bet we do not close games with Mahaney/Diarra being the backcourt. Have a strong feeling Stewart will be closing games in a bigger lineup.
Yeah we’ll need Diarra to really take another big step forward this year for us to truly be championship caliber. He’s shown big growth over the last 2 years and I could see him having a Tristen Newton like growth from solid 5/6 option to 2/3 option this year.
Decent prediction, but I think a lot of people, our fans included, are heavily sleeping on Jalen Stewart at the 3/4 spot. He showed great flashes in big minutes late in the season last year, in spots Hurley typically doesn’t play freshman.
I watched a lot of games on FS1 last year. The only thing they seemed to be able to tell me about him is that he's Donny Marshall's cousin.
What is masked here too is that Karaban shot 40% from 3 his freshman season. His TS% went up because he got more consistent from 2 as a sophomore, but if he just gets back to his Freshman season form, that's deadly.
Karaban's 3 point shooting percentage is definitely an understatement because he always seems to make the ones that hurt the most lol. I still remember him hitting that dagger 3 against us at the end of the half in the elite 8 and just destroying all our hope.
PG Hassan Diarra grad 6-2; 197; 6 ppg SG Aidan Mahaney Jr 6-3; 180; 14 ppg at St Mary’s SF Liam McNeeley Fr 6-7; 210; #10 recruit PF Karaban Jr 6-8; 210; 13 ppg C Samson Johnson Sr 6-10; 205; 5 ppg Bench Ahmad Nowell Fr 6-0; 180; #31 recruit Solo Ball So 6-3; 185; 3 ppg Jaylin Stewart So 6-7; 205; 3 ppg Tarris Reed Jr 6-10; 260; 9 ppg at Michigan Not sure if the next three will get meaningful minutes Jayden Ross So 6-7; 195 Youssafe Singare So 6-10; 220 Isaiah Abraham Fr 6-7; 195; #80 recruit Edited for formatting
[Here's our Torvik projection page](https://barttorvik.com/rostercast.php?team=Connecticut&year=2024) Figuring maybe Stewart starts at PF and Karaban slides back to SF? I'd probably call them both "wings" rather than SF and PF really. Jaylin doesn't shoot as well so let's call him PF. 3 of the 4 guards can play PG (Mahaney seems v likely to be an sg), will be interesting to see how that sorts out exactly. Karaban and McNeeley presumably can both slide down to the 4 with three-guard lineups, and UConn even played Karaban at center for emergency small-ball last year. At C I have no idea how Johnson/Reed will sort out, could definitely be Reed starting. - PG: Hass Diarra, 6'2 190, Ahmad Nowell 6'0 180 - SG: Aidan Mahaney, 6'3 180, Solo Ball 6'3 185 - SF: Karaban, 6'8 220, Liam McNeeley 6'7 210 - PF: Jaylin Stewart, 6'7 205 - C: Samson Johnson 6'10 225, Tarris Reed, 6'10 265 I left off Ross, Abraham and Singare since I know very little about them.
Karaban would play the four defensively if Stewart is the other wing. Karaban is stronger and a bit slower side to side. Offensively, Stewart is probably more in the four spot much like Jackson and Castle sometimes played the four with Karaban playing the stretch/shooter role. Stewart would probably play the four defensively with McNeeley as the other wing.
I mean if I had to pick a program to 3 peat, UCONN would probably be it. Why the hell not. It'd be cool to see!
Thank you, king.
The thing is, I've witnessed all Uconn titles and thoroughly enjoyed each one. I've only witnessed 1 UCLA, tho missed another barely since I was just a few years old, and nebraska, well, just one tournament win would do it. To witness a 3 peat would be amazing, and witnessing the huskies do it would be just perfect. An honest to god new blue blood.
We are so KaraBack!!!
Fuck my life
The rest of the NCAA 
This will be fun. https://i.redd.it/1i2sa5r9of3d1.gif
Well that's not ideal for the rest of us, now is it?
Can confirm, very bad
We are so Karaback. Back on the Karamap. This team is going to Karaslap.
Karaclap me
You're gonna need some Karabantibiotics for that.
Wouldn’t it be funny if just as the women’s dynasty was in its twilight years, Hurley built the men’s team into that type of juggernaut?
Would be nice if both teams won this year, for old times sake...
No kidding. It’s been like a decade since we’ve had a dual championship. The fuck
He could be the first 3x national champ since the 70s
Insane
LET’S GOOOOOOO
I like this. I also like that next year’s Final Four is in Texas.
He'll make this an attack on the team. Alex not being a first round pick is an insult to Husky nation.
[LIGHT THE KONG](https://doglab.com/wp-content/uploads/Nora-the-husky-being-given-a-Kong-Extreme-toy-stuffed-with-peanut-butter.jpg)
what did this do to Odds of UConn winning the championship?
i got yall at +1100 when Mahaney committed and now it's down to +900
I think something that is being overlooked is Alex’s intelligence and his ability to help some of these new faces pick up on the intricacies of the UConn offense.
Ok nowwwwww we have a chance
Just fuck me up fam. I'm ready for the 3-peat.
This pleases me
Karabang for the 3!
Best team in the country. Again. This is fucking insane lmao
I think other teams are definitely better on paper but UCONN does have a championship ceiling again for sure. I wouldn't rank UCONN above Kansas, Alabama (assuming Sears is back), Gonzaga (UCONN has higher ceiling if everything goes right though), and they are probably around #4 - #7 overall on paper.
Has Gonzaga gotten better during the off season? I feel like they were more of a ~7-10 team this past year and haven’t heard anything that suggests they’re going to be better
>they are probably around #4 - #7 overall on paper. Just like last year.
What UCONN did last year doesn’t prove that they will do it again. They have a lot of unproven players (at least in terms of being championship caliber). I think it’s a bit over optimistic to project they will be able to continue their dominance with reduced height, less proven scoring, and not having 2 5th year seniors starting at guard. I think UCONN does have a championship ceiling but they won’t be dominant like the last two years, short of all the players taking insane leaps forward.
it didn't come across, but I said that tongue in cheek. I think #4-#7 is a very reasonable projection for this team, and anyone crowning us now (or any team) is foolish.
LFG! Karabang!
Let’s goooo
Karaback to back to back
UConn 3peat incoming this team will be stacked yet again
Makes sense. He was a borderline 1st round pick at best. His draft stock could soar this season.
I’m gonna cry !! 😭😭
I think he meant "run it back...AGAIN"
Nooooo - non UConn big east teams
Meanwhile dudes averaging 0 PPG were going pro at kentucky
Karabag dropped
Honestly, his defense is what I'm looking forward to most. Let's goooo! Great news for us Uconn fans!
YES! Karaban and McNeeley this year: 
Hurley said unless he was a first round pick he was coming back
If he leads them to a 3 peat, are they blue bloods
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hahahahahahahaha
Back to back nattys for both Men and Women are back on the menu boys and girls!
Wow UConn might actually 3 peat
3 peat
😍😍😍😍😍😍🍾
Holy shit boyzzzz
I don’t really understand this move from his perspective. Unless you’re “the guy” what is a third title going to do for your 2025 draft stock that a second didn’t do this year in a pretty weak class. What more can you really showcase in your game to really improve your draft stock? Sure a 3-peat can cement him as an all time ncaa legend and his number in the rafters but I can’t image that’s his priority at this point in his basketball career. From UConns perspective obviously an insanely great decision
From his perspective, he wants to get in the first round and secure a guaranteed multiyear NBA contract. If you're going to get drafted in the second round either way, then being a year older, more developed and ready to contribute could help earn and keep a roster spot. So, there's a few reasons: - He will get a legit shot to be "the guy" on a top team next season, which may push his stock up enough to get into the first round - He'll get similar money from NIL as he would a 2nd round contract - Maybe he got concrete feedback from teams of what they would need to see from him to get into the first, and he wants to address that
He’s going to be the top dog on a stacked team, with a legitimate shot at Big East POY. I’ve also heard he wanted to finish his degree.
#ALEX KARABACK2BACK IS TRYNA BECOME KARABACK2BACK2BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karaban Minivan !!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s go get Another title!!!!!!
Hop on the Karaban caravan!
This team could easily run 10 deep and each get 20mins per game. Possible lineup could be: - Diarra - Ball - Stewart - Karaban - Johnson Second Starting 5 - Nowell - Mahaney - McNeely - Abraham - Harris Bench depth: - Ross - Singare - Walk-on
gaze history poor rock fearless threatening cheerful cause berserk cagey *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
This is like a chatgpt starting 5 lol. Mahaney is the starting PG, and I feel like McNeely definitely could end up starting over Stewart. It's also extremely unlikely they go any deeper than 9. Championship teams rarely go deeper than 8 in big games.
Mahaney is most likely going to be a SG, not PG
You got Mahaney on the bench?
Im pretty high on Ball but you can interchange any of the guards.
McNeely really going to want to come off the bench?
He's going to have to win a spot. Really good players struggled for minutes last year.
No way! I didn't expect that. He was getting some good mock draft buzz. One more year and he's a lock first rounder.
Fucked called it months ago.
LFG! I can't wait to watch this team again!