What was supposed to be a season destined for immortality–a historic three-peat–ended in heartbreak for Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies. A season filled with ups and downs came crashing to a halt with a disappointing second-round exit in the big dance. The dream of a third straight title? Gone. Coach Hurley knew he had serious work ahead if he wanted to build another championship-worthy squad. This week, though, he got a major boost! Program captain and one of his all-time favorites, Alex Karaban, announced he’s coming back for his senior year. Huge news for UConn! But not everyone’s convinced.

The 6’8″ forward from Southborough, Massachusetts, is already a two-time NCAA champion and is coming off his best season yet. Karaban averaged a career-high 14.3 points per game and earned Second-Team All-Big East honors. And he is ready to play for Dan Hurley another year.  On Tuesday morning, Karaban took to social media to make it official. “The last few years have been transformational for me as a person and player,” he wrote. “I am forever grateful to my coaching staff, my brothers, the fans, and the community at Conn for all of the memories we’ve made together…..After deliberating the last few weeks with my coaches and family about my future, I’ve realized that my heart remains in Storrs, and I have unfinished business to chase another national championship with my brothers. Let’s run it back one last time!”

While fans were thrilled to hear that their beloved captain is running it back, not everyone was sold on the hype. Rob Dauster of the Field of 68: After Dark podcast shared some strong opinions on Alex Karaban’s return and Dan Hurley’s rebuilding process. According to him, Karaban’s return might be great for the player–but will it be good for the Huskies?

“I think that if he had gone pro right now, he would be leaving at the low point of what his kind of draft stock would be right now,” he said. And much of that, he argued, had to do with how the season unfolded for UConn. The Huskies couldn’t catch a break with injuries– Liam McNeeley missed early games with a calf injury, while Hassan Diarra battled recurring ankle issues, disrupting UConn’s rhythm. To make matters worse, Aidan Mahaney didn’t live up to expectations. All of this put Alex Karaban in an unfamiliar spot: he had to take over as the primary scorer, a role he wasn’t exactly built for.

Dauster continues saying, “He turned into maybe arguably the go-to guy for a long stretch there, and being the primary option–that’s not what he does best. That’s not the skill set he’s developed.That’s not the role he played on a team that won back-to-back national championships, and frankly, it’s not what NBA teams are looking to bring him in to do. He’s at his best as the best role player in college basketball. I think he absolutely thrives as the fourth option” 

And to be fair, there’s truth to that. Karaban may have averaged a career-high 14.3 points per game last season, but he’s never really been the guy for UConn. During both of the Huskies’ title runs, he slotted in as the fourth scoring option–behind stars like Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer.

Hurley’s roster last season, hit hard by the loss of four NBA draft picks—Clingan, Castle, Newton, and Spencer—lacked the firepower to keep Karaban in a pure supporting role, exposing his limits in high-pressure games as he was asked to take on more offensive responsibility.

Do the Huskies have enough firepower this season to ensure Karaban isn’t forced into that lead-scoring role again? That’s the real question.

Can Dan Hurley and co rise again?

Dan Hurley and his staff know they’ve got a tough road ahead if they want to get back to where they were last season. While Karaban’s return is a big boost, the Huskies have other key returnees too. Solo Ball and Tarris Reed are both coming back, and they’ll play a massive role in helping the Huskies bounce back.

It’s easy to picture a starting five with Karaban, Solo Ball, Tarris Reed Jr., Silas Demery Jr, and Jaylin Stewart, all capable of scoring in double figures. Or maybe McDonald’s All-American freshman Braylon Mullins, their prized 5-star recruit, edges out Stewart for that final starting spot?. It’s a seemingly perfect mix of experience and infusion of young energy. Can they make a deep push in the big dance next year?

It remains to be seen if that will come to fruition. But for Karaban, he has the chance to become the first player since UCLA’s Larry Farmer and Larry Hollyfield in 1973 to win three national championships. Dan Hurley certainly has his eyes set on a championship next season. With the talent at his disposal, it’s all about how these pieces play together. Stay tuned for more updates!