Please appreciate Alex Karaban.
He’s a throw back. An old-school college basketball player who stayed at one place throughout his career. He won two national titles and could win a third. His love for UConn and Dan Hurley was clear and on full display Saturday during senior day.
The tears were genuine from Karaban and Hurley. Hurley has spoken glowingly about what Karaban has meant to him and the Huskies program. He changed the culture. He is the all-time winningest player in UConn men’s basketball history. Raising his name to the rafters Saturday was such a wonderful tribute to a stand-up individual.
Karaban has always been accessible to the media. His insightfulness will work well for him whenever he stops playing and decides if he wants to coach or stay in the game.
Programs like UConn need a player like Karaban to become a national contender. There had been plenty of players like Karaban for decades on champions and title contenders, but in the current era there are fewer and fewer.
So cherish what Karaban is to UConn and to the game: He’s a model for the next generation of players.
He’s a must-have player for the Huskies this season, too. He’s not going to lead them in scoring every game, but his presence must be felt on a given game for the Huskies to be a contender or at least advance in the NCAA Tournament.
My six other players who fit this criteria, who absolutely have to be on for their team to advance:
Cameron Boozer, Duke: He’s the National Player of the Year and a double-double machine. If he is off the court for an extended period of time, Duke doesn’t win the title.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU: The Cougars have been erratic the past month. But if BYU is to have any chance, Dybantsa has to be on the floor and take over the game.
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State: Fears is dropping dimes all the time, but if he’s not on the floor or reverts back to any of his antics, the Spartans aren’t going far. If Fears stays disciplined then Michigan State could make a deep run.
Graham Ike, Gonzaga: The Bulldogs must play through Ike. If they do and he’s controlling the interior, they have the goods to go deep.
Braden Smith, Purdue: Smith has to run the Boilermakers, get everyone involved and make big shots. If he plays up to his standards, which are very high, Purdue can still be a team to beat.
Zuby Ejifor, St. John’s: The Red Storm still have the personnel to make a Final Four, but only if Ejifor is protecting the rim and scoring around it at the offensive end. He’s a difference maker at both ends and will be the reason if St. John’s advances deep in March.
Katz’s Corner: It’s Time for School Presidents to Speak on Eligibility
Why school presidents need to speak out on the festering eligibility issue. Plus: Arizona and Michigan vs. the field and St. John’s vs. UConn.
- The race for POY is over: Cameron Boozer is going to win the Naismith, Wooden and every other Player of the Year award. Boozer has been too dominant at his position, leading Duke to the top of the ACC and a likely No. 1 overall seed. I cannot see a scenario now where he doesn’t win the award.
- Grant McCasland: He may not win Big 12 Coach of the Year because Tommy Lloyd is the likely winner after leading Arizona to the top of the league. But McCasland has done wonders with the Red Raiders, especially in the past two weeks. Texas Tech has won three in a row without JT Toppin, including winning at Iowa State. Texas Tech looked to be in jeopardy of not getting a top-four line seed when Toppin went down. But the past two weeks have essentially locked in the Red Raiders.
- Pryce Sandfort should be first-team All-Big Ten: The Iowa transfer guard has been the best player on Nebraska. He dropped 32 on USC in a critical road win for the Huskers. Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Keaton Wagler (Illinois) and Jeremy Fears Jr., (Michigan State) should also be locks. That means the fifth and final spot on the first team comes down to reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith (Purdue) or Bennett Stirtz (Iowa).
- The recent losses by Iowa State and Houston means the fourth No. 1 seed likely is a two-team race between UConn and Florida. Duke, Arizona and Michigan are locks.
- I spoke with Creighton coach Greg McDermott prior to the final home game of the season Saturday. He didn’t commit that it was his last home game in Omaha, but he did say that having Alan Huss as a coach in waiting has taken the pressure off the decision. He knows the succession should go smoothly with Huss, who played and coached at Creighton. McDermott, 61, can take his time with the decision. I won’t be surprised if that was his final home game. He’s coached the Bluejays for 16 seasons, saw his son Doug become an all-time Bluejay great, and helped get Creighton into the Big East and become a major challenger most seasons. The Bluejay faithful are one of the most loyal and passionate fan bases. The crowd Saturday night was terrific for a team that won’t be going to the NCAA Tournament unless it wins the Big East.
- It’s a shame USC never got to play with Rodney Rice, Chad Baker-Mazara and Alijah Arenas all at once. Injuries have crushed this team. The Trojans have lost five in a row and are on the wrong side of the bubble.
- Bubble teams that are sweating right now are Auburn, Texas A&M, Cal, SMU, UCLA and Indiana.
- The L.J. Cason news (done for the season with a torn ACL) is a tough blow for Michigan. But if there is one position where they could afford to lose a player it is on the perimeter. Elliot Cadeau, Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney are still more than enough to lead the Wolverines to a title.
- Miami (OH) has two games remaining to go 18-0 in the MAC, against Toledo and at Ohio. If they win out, regardless of what happens in the MAC Tournament, I’m now believing they would get in even with a loss in the tournament. The 31 or 32 wins would be hard to dismiss. If they win just one more game, I think it’s a lock they make the field. The last time the MAC had two teams in the field was 1999.
- The Mountain West will once again be one of the most interesting conferences to deal with during selection week. There is still a chance only one team gets into the Big Dance. But it’s more likely that two find a way. San Diego State lost at New Mexico and continues to take on water. Utah State didn’t help itself with two straight losses before playing host to Grand Canyon. Utah State, New Mexico and San Diego State are all more than capable of winning a game in the tournament, but there may only be room for one if they continue to beat each other up.
- Lost amid the Saint Louis buzz in the A-10 is the re-emergence of Dayton. The Flyers beat SLU and have won five in a row. They are tied with Saint Joseph’s for third and are more than capable of winning the A-10 tournament. SLU isn’t a lock for an at-large just yet.
- Hawaii’s Eran Ganot: Get Ganot a new deal. His contract is running out and he has led the Rainbow Warriors through some choppy waters and now has Hawaii in first place with two games left at home in the final season in the Big West. Hawaii will move to the Mountain West in all sports next season and the Rainbows need consistency. Ganot has shown he can navigate this new territory.
- UMBC’s Jim Ferry: Ferry filled in admirably as an interim coach at one point for Penn State. He landed at UMBC in the balanced America East. And now he’s guided the Retrievers to the No. 1 seed in the America East Tournament and a regular-season title. Beating out Vermont for the championship is never easy in this league. And Ferry has orchestrated the takeover quite well.
Meet your guide
