Paige Bueckers has dealt with injuries over the past two years, but now UConn's star guard enters this season healthy with a new sense of purpose and 'a maturity in her,' according to her coach.
women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma gathered his coaches together for a film session at the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center. The Hall of Fame coach discovered some issues with his team that he wanted to fix, primarily on the defensive end. In trying to find out who the main culprit was in these errors, he saw a prime opportunity to break down his best player: Paige Bueckers.
"He would always pause the video when I wasn't looking at the ball, just when I was turning. It was a ‘Pick on Paige' thing, but it was fun. I enjoyed it. I missed that, and I'm willing to take that whenever. I was not in the right spot on defense, and he let me hear it. He let me know." When Bueckers has been healthy, she's been nearly unstoppable on the basketball court. During her freshman season, Bueckers averaged 20.0 points, 5.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game en route to a Final Four appearance.
But amid all that, there was something the 69-year-old Auriemma said on Tuesday that stood out above every story, anecdote and one-liner he shared. "I think I'm even more confident than I was before," said Bueckers, who will have not played in 584 days when she steps on the floor for the Huskies' season opener on Nov. 8."In my body, I feel a lot stronger. I think I can read the game in a different way, and I'm using my voice now. I think I'm a better leader."
Bueckers followed that by bringing up a subject that is very near and dear to her heart: helping grow the sport of women's basketball. Auriemma said the depth of this year's team is the biggest strength, because for the first time in several years, UConn has multiple units it can practice with and build up ahead of the season. There have been games in recent years when the Huskies have been down to seven scholarship players due to the injury bug hitting the program so hard."Other than not playing, preventing injuries is impossible," the eight-time Naismith Coach of the Year said.
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