Once again, Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies are playing in the Final Four.
UConn won back-to-back national titles before a second-round exit last season, and now Hurley is back with hopes of a third title in four seasons.
Ahead of the Final Four game against Illinois, Hurley had quite the comparison for star Alex Karaban.
“It’s like hiring a baby sitter for your team. And he just baby sits your team for 4.5 years. He’s been the best baby sitter. I guess now we’re paying him in NIL,” Hurley said.
Dan Hurley on Alex Karaban: “It’s like hiring a baby sitter for your team. And he just baby sits your team for 4.5 years. He’s been the best baby sitter. I guess now we’re paying him in NIL.” pic.twitter.com/Aaa8rGkrMn
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 3, 2026
While Hurley called Karaban a “baby sitter,” the Huskies senior has been a massive part of the team’s success since the 2022-23 season. Karaban enrolled at UConn for the 2021-22 season, but he redshirted and first played the following season.
In March, Hurley also said Karaban was “like a son” to him, so the two have quite a relationship.
Karaban has started all but one game in four seasons at UConn, and this year he is averaging 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Karaban decided not to head to the NBA Draft last season, instead opting to return to UConn for another chance at a national title.
The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies will take on the No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, Apr. 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
