Game days were challenging for Alex Karaban and Corey Floyd Jr., this past season.

Due to their red-shirt status, they only could practice with the UConn basketball team. They cheered on and supported their teammates from the bench during games.

"My competitive mentality is I just wanted to go out there and help the team win," Karaban said earlier this week. "It was just hard because we didn't have much control except providing energy on the bench."

Karaban, a 6-foot-8 forward, and Floyd, 6-3 guard, are expected to contribute when they both make their UConn debuts next season.

Coach Dan Hurley believes the duo can be impact players along with fellow newcomer Donovan Clingan, a standout center out of Bristol Central.

"It was good for them," Hurley said. "It puts them in a position to be able to give us quality minutes. Those guys will both be impact players, how big an impact is going to be decided by how ready they are.

"They understand what we're trying to do on defense. They understand what the practices are like, how big these games are."

Karaban and Floyd benefited from a season of development. They got adjusted to the level of play and intensity by competing in practice and learned all about the coaching staff's expectations.

They made strides in every aspect of their game.

They talked about how their older teammates helped get them better and also encouraged them along the way.

"Having a much older team, I got to learn a lot," Floyd said. "Most of these guys had a lot of knowledge to give me. I was just a sponge this year and took it all in."

The two newcomers arrived on campus at different times.

Floyd, who's from Franklin, N.J., and the son of former Providence guard Corey Floyd, Sr., joined the UConn program last fall. He played a starring role at Roselle Catholic in New Jersey and took classes last summer so he could reclassify. After talking with his family and Hurley, he decided to sit out his freshman year as a redshirt.

Karaban, a consensus top 50 recruit from Northborough, Mass., enrolled at UConn for the second semester after graduating early from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. By the time he arrived in Storrs in January, his left hand that he broke last fall had healed.

Prior to IMG Academy, Karaban averaged 25.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks while earning Gatorade New Hampshire player of the year at New Hampton School.

The newcomers received a tough introduction to the college basketball world.

Floyd competed against bigger players like Tyrese Martin and Andre Jackson on a regular basis in practice while Karaban battled veteran forward Isaiah Whaley, the 2021 Big East defensive player of the year.

The fact that they were both going through the same experience and had each other to lean on made life easier for them.

"It helped a lot," Floyd said. "Alex is just like me in the sense that he's always working. Every time that I come into the gym, I see him. It's just good to see somebody else putting that same work in as me. It makes you want to work even harder. We pushed each other.

"We worked out together without (associate head) coach Kimani (Young) last week. We just went hard and made each other better. I really love that guy."

Part of their workout routine included a roughly 45-minute session with Young before home games.

They did some dribbling and shooting drills, taking turns firing up shots from different spots, some off the dribble and some catch-and-shoot.

"We did that just to get a workout in and just get a sweat in instead of just sitting there and watching them warm up and then play, just to stay active," Karaban said. "It just reminded us to always work because we're the future of the program."

Hurley will need Floyd next season to help fill a gap in the backcourt. The Huskies lost four guards, including starters Martin and R.J. Cole who decided to pursue professional careers. Freshman Rahsool Diggins and junior Jalen Gaffney plan to transfer.

"If Corey was available and wasn't a red-shirt, he would have played this year because he's physical, he's got great pedigree and size," Hurley said. "He doesn't have anything that's really deficient. He's an athlete, well-rounded, and he's still young."

There also will be ample opportunity for Karaban to earn a regular spot in the rotation. He brings a much-needed skill, and that's the ability to knock down a jump shot.

Floyd and Karaban possess the same mentality, work ethic and drive.

"The thing you know about Alex and Corey is that they'll force their way on the court," Hurley said. "You just can't recruit somebody and think they're good enough. Once they get here, they've got to get themselves on the court. Guys like James (Bouknight) and Adama (Sanogo) and Andre Jackson, from the day they stepped foot on campus here, they made it abundantly clear that they were not going to be not on the court.

"Alex is going to have to fight his way on the court. But he's a good player. He's got a super skill, which is shooting and passing."

Karaban believes that he'll fit in well next season due in part to his versatility and basketball smarts. He knows he'll have to work hard to earn playing time.

"Coach Hurley doesn't promise anything," Karaban said. "We have a great opportunity that's ahead of us just to work for and prove ourselves. I think we'll be on the younger side for the team next year with a bunch of people leaving.

"Just a big opportunity for the freshman class next year."

g.keefe@theday.com