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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Karaffa Plays his Role Well for Orr, Falcons
January 25, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2008
BY JESSICA HONIGFORD, BGSU Athletic Communications - At 3:00 p.m. on any given day there are less than two-dozen people in Anderson Arena. The members of the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team and a couple handfuls of various athletic staff, coaches and trainers scatter across the basketball court, warming up and shooting hoops. It is on these empty-seated afternoons that Matt Karaffa contributes the most to his team.
Karaffa's contribution to the team is hard work, competitiveness and dedication during practice and in whatever game situations the coach and team need him. BGSU men's basketball head coach Louis Orr says Karaffa has been an asset to the team.
"The work Matt does, nobody sees a lot of times," Coach Orr said. "He's been a great practice player. He goes hard in practice, he brings enthusiasm and he has the players' respect and that's big."
The 6'3" sophomore is a walk-on for the Falcons. Last October he and 34 other men began the process of trying out for a walk-on position to the team. Over the course of two weeks Karaffa watched as more and more of the original 35 people were cut.
When it came down to the final four, Karaffa was among them. According to his high school's (Lakota West) alumni update, he found out he was the last man standing when he went to turn in some paperwork. The 210-pound guard has been with the Falcons ever since.
"Coming in, I didn't really know what to expect with the team, but the guys and I have gotten along really well," Karaffa said. "I've gotten to travel with the team right from the beginning so that kind of helped me in and helped me get used to what Division I sports are about."
Coach Orr says there were many reasons Karaffa stood out from the rest of the men trying out for the walk-on spot.
"I think his knowledge of the game, how he plays and his intensity helps him," Orr said. "He understood how to play. He's a smart player and he's competitive."
As competitive as he is, Karaffa didn't know if he would even get the chance to play sports at the collegiate level just a short time ago. During his freshman year of high school at Lakota West, he tore his right ACL playing football. The injury ended his high school football career and kept him from playing basketball as a frosh. Karaffa's was back out on the court his sophomore year and had worked his way up to being the sixth man in his junior year.
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On Feb. 10, 2006, Karaffa tore his left ACL on Senior Night. That night the Firebirds would lose just their second game of what would turn out to be an elite-eight season. The knee injury forced Karaffa to the bench for the remainder of his high school basketball career.
Karaffa came to BGSU in the fall of 2006 unable to play basketball until Thanksgiving. The men's season was well under way by that time so the accounting major waited another year and then decided it was time to take to the court once more.
"When I tore my ACL my senior year I thought I was done," Karaffa said. "Then I came to college and thought I'd give walking on a chance. Just going to the rec everyday and playing made me want to get back to playing competitively. With the new coach coming in, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to get a shot. If I wasn't going to do it then, I probably wasn't going to do it."
Karaffa hasn't seen much playing time for the Falcons. He made a brief appearance on the floor in the Indiana State game on Dec. 22 for his collegiate debut, but to this 19-year-old, it's not the playing time that matters.
"Coming in I knew that playing was not the main objective; it was more just to be part of the team and the competitive nature of the sport...for me to know that I could do it, play Division I, even if it is walking on."
Coach Orr also says it's not necessarily the playing time that is important in the college basketball career of a walk-on.
"It's not about coming in and hitting the winning basket in a game or playing 20 minutes in a game; that's not what makes a great walk-on," he said. "If that happens, it's the exception. It's the behind-the-scenes things they do in practice, on the bench and off the court. The consistency, the enthusiasm, the work ethic, the intangible things, that's what makes the difference."
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While the point guards and perimeter shooters are practicing their three-pointers and lay-ups on one half of the court, Karaffa is at the other end, taking on 6'9" teammate Marc Larson in a 2-on-2 drill. Despite the half-foot difference in height, Karaffa works hard to put a bunny up over the head of Larson. The sleeve on his left knee is a constant reminder to him about what he's had to over come to be on the floor with the rest of the team.
As the Falcons advance deeper into the 2007-08 season, Karaffa plans to keep doing what he's been doing -- working hard and contributing in practice -- in the remaining weeks of the season.
"For the rest of the season (I want) to continue to contribute in practice and give everything I can," he said. "With the team down in numbers [Karaffa is one of just 10 active players on the roster], practice is to me as important as playing, just to help everyone get better. Who knows what will happen in my remaining two years here; I'll just continue to work, and whatever happens, happens."
