St. John's graduate now a part of three championship teams on UConn staff

Tom Moore was ordering a large coffee from Starbucks Wednesday afternoon and looking forward to a great nights sleep, but, some 36 hours after the University of Connecticut mens basketball team captured the national championship, obviously was still exhilarated.

UConn defeated San Diego State, 76-59, Monday night in Houston, and amidst the swirling confetti in the postgame celebration, players, coach Dan Hurley and his assistants wore nets around their necks, took turns hoisting the trophy, and proudly held up five fingers to acclaim the programs fifth national championship.

Moore, who grew up in Millbury, graduated from St. Johns High, and is in the fifth season of his second stint on the Huskies coaching staff, has been part of three of them.

It feels great, Moore said in a phone interview.

The 57-year-old Moore, whose first head coaching job was at Worcester State, spent 13 seasons (1994-2007) on former UConn coach Jim Calhouns staff and helped guide the Huskies to their first two national titles, in 1999 and 2004.

All three (national title teams he has been part of) were really different, Moore said. In 1999, there was the pressure for Coach Calhoun to make a Final Four. He had been considered probably the best coach in college basketball to that point not to make a Final Four. It was such a relief that year just winning the Elite 8 game. Winning it all was just the cherry on the top.

UConn entered the 99 final against Duke as a 10-point underdog and won, 77-74.

The 2004 team, considered a front-runner most of the year, overcame some injuries, peaked down the stretch, and beat Georgia Tech, 82-73 in the final.

This years team started 14-0, dipped in January, and dominated its NCAA Tournament competition, winning six games by an average margin of 20 points.

The thing about this team that was different from the other two, Moore said, is Ive never been around a team where all eight players in the rotation were playing well throughout the whole month of March. Ive never seen anything like it.

They were all super comfortable in their roles, Moore added, and they were on a hot streak the whole month. They went into every practice and every game with a confidence and a swagger, and feeling good about how they were playing. It was like this magic carpet ride. They looked like the team they were in November and December again.

Earlier on Wednesday, Moore joked with graduate guard Joey Calcaterra and junior guard Andre Jackson that he wished there was another regional to go to next week.

It was that type of group of guys, Moore said. You wanted to keep coaching them.

Freshman forward Alex Karaban of Southborough, who started all but one game in 2022-23 and was a solid contributor all season, averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the NCAA tourney.

In the final, Karaban, who starred for one season at Algonquin Regional, had 5 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks.

To get that consistency and poise out of a first-year player is amazing, said Moore, who had an important role in recruiting Karaban.

This season, Karaban led the Huskies in minutes (1,129).

Hes just that valuable, Moore said. You didnt want to take him off the floor.

Moore, who left UConn after the 2006-07 season to take over at Quinnipiac, where he led the Bobcats for 10 years, shared the 2004 national title with former Holy Cross coach George Blaney, who was a UConn assistant from 2000-13. Their relationship goes back to Moores youth, when he attended Blaneys HC basketball camp.

After Mondays game, Hurley, who played for Blaney for two seasons at Seton Hall, thanked his former coach.

Two games into his junior season, Hurley left the Seton Hall team, taking a personal leave of absence and unsure if he would play basketball again. When Blaney took over as Seton Hall coach the next year, he convinced Hurley to return.

Dan credits Coach Blaney for saving his basketball life, Moore said, for helping him relocate his passion for the game. Coach Blaneys touch and his compassion and his understanding came into Dans life, from a basketball perspective, when he needed someone like that the most. Knowing what a caring person Coach Blaney is, someone who understands the game and what the game can do for people and the redeeming power of the game, its not surprising.

Moore hasnt yet spoken to Blaney since UConns win Monday night, but he will. Moore received a congratulatory text from Blaneys son, Brian.

The Huskies returned to Storrs Tuesday afternoon, and fans welcomed them back to Gampel Pavilion with a national championship rally. Among those in attendance was Calhoun.

Dan has done a great job bringing him into the fold and having him talk to the team, Moore said.

There will be a victory parade in downtown Hartford Saturday.

Its been really good winning and going on a run like this, Moore said. It gets people so excited. Thats the best part of it.

Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenTolandTG.

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Millbury's Tom Moore celebrates winning another championship ... - Worcester Telegram