Alex Karaban Misses Crucial Free Throws as UConn Falls to Villanova

In a dramatic finish Wednesday night, UConn‘s Alex Karaban, a career 83% free throw shooter, missed two critical free throws in the final seconds, leading to a 68-66 loss against Villanova. The Huskies, trailing by one point, had a chance to take the lead with 3.1 seconds remaining, but Karaban’s rare miss at the charity stripe sealed their fate.

Karaban, who finished the game with 10 points and four assists, had been instrumental in UConn’s second-half comeback, scoring eight of his points in the final 20 minutes. Despite his late-game heroics, the missed free throws overshadowed his efforts. UConn head coach Dan Hurley, known for his candid remarks, offered a mix of support and tough love postgame. “He’s the winningest player in college basketball,” Hurley said. “Sometimes you’ve got to eat shit, you know?”

Hurley emphasized Karaban’s importance to the team, praising his aggressiveness in the closing moments. “I loved the way he wanted the ball at the end of the game and wanted to make the plays,” Hurley added. The loss dropped UConn to 14-3 on the season, while Villanova improved to 12-5.

The game was a hard-fought battle, with UConn erasing a 12-point deficit in the second half. Karaban’s decision to attack the basket in the final seconds was a smart play, but the missed free throws highlighted the unpredictable nature of college basketball. Hurley, referencing UConn’s earlier struggles in the Maui Invitational, encouraged Karaban to focus on the team’s past successes. “Just pull your box of rings out and maybe just kind of play with your back-to-back national championship rings,” Hurley said.

UConn will look to bounce back in their next game against Georgetown, while Villanova aims to build on this momentum as they continue their Big East campaign.