Karaban still weighing decision whether to return or go pro

[gtcam]

Do you believe the staff has not evaluated portal replacements for Alex?

Do you believe the staff has not reached out to potential Alex replacements?

Do you believe it’s impossible there were no players that had the skills the staff wanted or, if they did have those skills, they did not meet the cultural preferences or monetary parameters?

Do you believe an indecisive player has frozen the demanding and strong personality of Hurley from setting perimeters on Alex’s decision making?

If so go ahead and scapegoat Alex for the failures around him.

I have the opposite answers to those questions.

Do you believe an indecisive player has frozen the demanding and strong personality of Hurley from setting perimeters on Alex’s decision making?

Yes - his loyalty stands in the way of his decision making at times - right or wrong - thats not for us to decide

 

[HooperScooper]

Because they don't know if Alex is coming back.. No one who expects to be a starter at the 4 is going to be happy if Alex decides he's coming back...so I doubt any top tier player would commit to coming unless they know Alex is leaving.

I'm all for taking your time...but he should have had all the info from his agent the day we were eliminated. He's had a month...nothing is changing on the "go pro" side. He is what he is and teams view him a certain way.

We will see.......

 

[Dove]

During the time it took me to read this thread, Alex missed 15 treys.

 

[HooperScooper]

During the time it took me to read this thread, Alex missed 15 treys.

And made 8

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Should have locked this thread right after the thread title was made.
14 pages of nothing so far.

 

[temery]

Well he has until midnight tomorrow. At this point does it matter if we have to wait a day and a half. I bet he announces at 1159 PM on Saturday just to keep the BY guessing lol.

3:08 pm today

 

[Scrutineer]

This idea that Alex has put UConn in a bind is ludicrous. I am sure he is transparent w his intentions and the staff is well equipped. It’s not like any of this is coming out of left field and blind sighting them.

Ludicrous that he put the program in a bind?

You're right, but only because for him to cause maximum damage to the program they had to show him loyalty and defer on replacing him. Their willingness to go along with this lengthy process speaks volumes about how much Dan Hurley loves him and what he's done for the program but he's not helping the program at this point.

He can be as transparent as Saran Wrap but that does the staff no good if he drags out the decision as much as he did last year. There's no excuse. He has to know he's not a first round pick and probably not high enough in the second round to get any meaningful guarantee so what factor could be delaying the decision?

 

[Fishy]

I think Hurley already knows. Its us fans that don't.

He doesn’t.

 

[Marat]

He doesn’t.

Well that wouldn't be good.

 

[bendm]

Well that wouldn't be good.

Therein lies the problem. Just because staff swears it’s ok that Alex took so long to decide so that they now have to scour the European continent for his replacement doesn’t mean they wouldnt have preferred to simply lure an elite player from another school into the transfer portal and been done with it.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Karabull
Or
Karabear

Unfortunately, today is a mixed bag in the markets.

 

[CL82]

Karabull
Or
Karabear

Karabiner?

 

[ctchamps]

I don't understand these vacuous questions. I'll sum it up with 1 question.....Do you think any player that signed elsewhere since the portal opened could have been a possible Alex replacement but didn't come here because of the possibility of Alex coming back?

No

 

[DRBackup]

He doesn’t.

I mean, isn't that inherent in "decision making" ? If he already knew the answer, why wouldn't he just announce it.

 

[amishboy]

I mean, isn't that inherent in "decision making" ? If he already knew the answer, why wouldn't he just announce it.

I think the “he” is referring to Dan Hurley, not Alex (who would be making the announcement).

 

[uconnfan68]

I kinda agree with both positions: Alex is a UConn legend, who owes us nothing, and is owed as much time as he needs for this potentially life-changing decision, but…

I’m skeptical that we have a great backup plan, i.e., Miller might not be making his “taking my talents to UConn” announcement at 12:01 tomorrow. The backup plan might just be some trio of Stewart, Ross, Reibe, etc., at the 4.

I could live with that backup plan.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I kinda agree with both positions: Alex is a UConn legend, who owes us nothing, and is owed as much time as he needs for this potentially life-changing decision, but…

I’m skeptical that we have a great backup plan, i.e., Miller might not be making his “taking my talents to UConn” announcement at 12:01 tomorrow. The backup plan might just be some trio of Stewart, Ross, Reibe, etc., at the 4.

Hoping for the ever popular “big jumps” out of 2/3 of those but I really dislike relying on it.

 

[ctchamps]

Ludicrous that he put the program in a bind?

You're right, but only because for him to cause maximum damage to the program they had to show him loyalty and defer on replacing him. Their willingness to go along with this lengthy process speaks volumes about how much Dan Hurley loves him and what he's done for the program but he's not helping the program at this point.

He can be as transparent as Saran Wrap but that does the staff no good if he drags out the decision as much as he did last year. There's no excuse. He has to know he's not a first round pick and probably not high enough in the second round to get any meaningful guarantee so what factor could be delaying the decision?

I doubt the deferral would have been unconditional. Alex loves Hurley and UConn. They must have discussed situations where a decision had to be made.

Unless you believe Alex is both indecisive and fragile.

I’m not certain that he’s even indecisive. He chose UConn instead of his parents preference of more prestigious academic institutions.

He left IMG Academy to get a head start with our program.

 

[3rdbass]

Hoping for the ever popular “big jumps” out of 2/3 of those but I really dislike relying on it.

I think Stewart will be the starter if Karaban doesn't come back and I feel good based on the end of year how he was playing. He just now needs to be more aggressive on offense as we are going to need him as a shooter. He can't sit at the 3 point line and do an occassional cut to the basket. He is going to have to be moving and looking for his shot in our offense. We will need him to be big contributor next year. Ross I don't really have much confidence in from what I saw and hope we are looking for more depth pieces in the portal if Alex doesn't come back to back up at PF or even SF. I think Mullins will start at SF based on the current lineup but having more reliable depth there would be helpful.

 

[3rdbass]

Therein lies the problem. Just because staff swears it’s ok that Alex took so long to decide so that they now have to scour the European continent for his replacement doesn’t mean they wouldnt have preferred to simply lure an elite player from another school into the transfer portal and been done with it.

I think if Alex doesn't come back we are looking at J-Stew to start at the 4 and looking for backup players in the portal which I think we can do at this time. We probably aren't going to find a starter at this late in the game but you never know what might happen out there once Alex's decision is final.

 

[mauconnfan]

I think if Alex doesn't come back we are looking at J-Stew to start at the 4 and looking for backup players in the portal which I think we can do at this time. We probably aren't going to find a starter at this late in the game but you never know what might happen out there once Alex's decision is final.

We can’t just look at “back up” players in Alex’s spot we need the best player they can get. I mean I like Stew but you can’t be sure either he or Ross make that necessary jump to help us be a better team. Neither made huge leaps last year, Stew better but not consistent. I mean kids who they want don’t want to be here if they’re backing up a guy who’s not sure if he’s staying or not. Not sure why everyone thinks it’s ok?

 

[Dave Carlson]

I’m a AK fan and appreciate what he’s done. Just don’t like to see his legacy tarnished because of this process.

I think most people just want a decision so we can move on.

lol, Karaban’s legacy isn’t tarnished because some think he blocked UConn from getting some top tier replacement. If he decides not to come back, I’m sure he will be devastated that the 175 people who don’t know how to use social media think he’s a rat and are prepared to tell him so if he ever steps into their retirement village.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

I waited until last night to watch this season's final 2 "Karaban & Kotler" episodes of the Connecticut Scoreboard podcast, and I'm thinking that we're going to learn something by midnight tomorrow.

No, no, nope...no way I'm not going out on that limb with you

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

lol, Karaban’s legacy isn’t tarnished because some think he blocked UConn from getting some top tier replacement. If he decides not to come back, I’m sure he will be devastated that the 175 people who don’t know how to use social media think he’s a rat and are prepared to tell him so if he ever steps into their retirement village.

Dark Alex vs. Some .

 

[FreeKlaiber]

lol, Karaban’s legacy isn’t tarnished because some think he blocked UConn from getting some top tier replacement. If he decides not to come back, I’m sure he will be devastated that the 175 people who don’t know how to use social media think he’s a rat and are prepared to tell him so if he ever steps into their retirement village.

Dave's a Killer

 

[bendm]

I think if Alex doesn't come back we are looking at J-Stew to start at the 4 and looking for backup players in the portal which I think we can do at this time. We probably aren't going to find a starter at this late in the game but you never know what might happen out there once Alex's decision is final.

Agreed we will be looking for a backup 4/5 and 3rd string PG in the portal but apparently staff is scouting Europeans now

 

[UCLJ0211]

Karabull
Or
Karabear

 

[Marbles90]

Dave's a Killer

Dave’s a mess

 

[Ewekon]

I'm going with the collective wisdom(?) of many here and saying he wouldn't string us along this far. Coaches know he is coming back.

My lips to God's ears.

 

[3rdbass]

Agreed we will be looking for a backup 4/5 and 3rd string PG in the portal but apparently staff is scouting Europeans now

If Alex doesn't come back then we will need a more impactful 4 who could play 5 but be a backup. I'm not sure who is out there besides the ones mentioned before Baba, Ohio St. Forward and the PItt F/C. Too bad the Quinnipiac guy isn't out there anymore. He would be a great backup 4 thought a little too small for a backup 5. He was more a 3/4 than a 4/5.