Huskies stay focused on the present, not future NBA riches
– Reminders of what's ahead for some UConn players are everywhere.
The Huskies are playing in pro basketball arenas during the NCAA tournament.
They're being asked questions about their futures.
Their coach is talking about their NBA potential.
Yet players like redshirt sophomore Alex Karaban remain locked in on UConn's quest to repeat as national champions.
“I don't care about that at all,” Karaban said on Wednesday about the NBA talk. “I care more about UConn right now and I care more about what I can do at this program and at this school. Help leave a legacy. Winning two national championships, I think that's going to stick with me forever, more than anything that can happen in the future.”
It can be challenging to block out those kinds of distractions.
During the 2006 NCAA tournament, heavily-favored UConn suffered a stunning Elite Eight overtime loss to George Mason due in part to similar distractions.
The NCAA tournament stage provides players with an opportunity to improve their draft stock.
But that subject never comes up during what coach Dan Hurley calls `We Season,' according to Karaban.
“During the season, he never talks about stock, he never talks about the NBA,” Karaban said. “He wants us to focus on the moment. He thinks those are distractions. He's never talked about that at all. We'll see what happens. But, really, no talk about that, ever.”
Karaban is one of three starters that will have a decision to make about their future once the season ends. He's a potential NBA draft pick along with freshman Stephon Castle and sophomore Donovan Clingan, who could go high in the first round if they decide to leave school early to begin a professional career.
Hurley talked about his players' draft potential on Wednesday, the day before facing San Diego State in the NCAA East Region Sweet Sixteen action Thursday night at TD Garden.
“We do have several players on this team that are going to play in the NBA, are going to be drafted in the NBA, are going to be drafted in the lottery in the NBA,” Hurley said.
TD Garden, the home of the Boston Celtics, is the second NBA arena that UConn is playing in during the NCAA tournament. The Huskies won two games at the Barclays Center of Brooklyn, where the Nets play.
The Barclays Center also is where the NBA holds its draft in June.
Transfer portal blues
The transfer portal is a popular topic during the NCAA tournament.
Over 1,000 Division I players already are in the portal.
Hurley is all for moving the transfer portal opening until the end of the postseason. He says his coaching staff is focused on winning, not recruiting transfers during the NCAA tournament.
“That would be nice…,” Hurley said of moving the date. “It's almost like pro sports, where it feels like we're going to have the last pick in the draft. A lot of players will have made decisions because we're not recruiting. We may be listed by some players on some lists of having shown interest, but I know that I don't have interest right now.
“… I think the way we function as a program is on our team and coaching the season, and then we'll make personnel moves once we're done coaching this group. … I don't like the window being open right now.”
Hurley has benefitted from dipping into the transfer portal. He brought in Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer, who's second on the team in scoring in his starting role, for this season. Joey Calcaterra (San Diego) and Naheim Alleyne (Virginia Tech) were key reserves on the 2023 national championship team.
San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher is keeping track of the portal during March Madness.
“I'm talking to players in the portal right now,” Dutcher said. “I haven't done a Zoom yet, but we're trying to set one up. That's the unfortunate thing with the timing of it. … I'm 100 percent focused on this year, but I'm doing San Diego State a disservice if I don't have an eye on the future, too, so I have to multi-task.”
Clingan’s favorite Celtic
Clingan, a 7-foot-2 center, is a big Boston Celtics fan.
His favorite player?
Kevin Garnett, who along with former UConn star Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA title.
“Kevin Garnett played so hard,” Clingan said. “He played great defense. I try to model how hard he plays and how he flies around the floor. I'm just really happy to be here.”
News and notes
Entering Thursday's game, the Huskies (33-3) were closing in on some program records, including tying the mark for most regular season wins held by the 1998-99 national championship team (34-2). They needed 13 assists to top the single season record for assists set last season (684 in 39 games). Tristen Newton was 20 shy of tying Marcus Williams (243 in 2004-05) for second most assists in a season. Taliek Brown owns the record with 253 in 2003-04. … UConn is the No. 2 ranked offense in the country, according to Kenpom. They average 81.6 points per game while shooting 49.8% and trail only Illinois in that category, which faced Iowa State in Thursday's second regional semifinal in Boston. … San Diego State was ranked No. 24 in the last Associated Press top 25 poll, UConn No. 1. … The Huskies have shot better 52 percent from the field in four of the last five games prior to Thursday.