Despite Successful Return From Nasty Injury, Paige Bueckers’ Coach Drops Unfiltered Reality Check

The Uconn Huskies get their season underway courtesy of a steady victory over the Dayton Flyers. The depth and balance of the No.2 seed Uconn influenced them to rally through the defenses of Dayton in front of a sold-out XL Center. The Naismith College Player of 2021 Paige Beuckers was seen having the taste of the action.

Paige Bueckers made her return after she tore her ACL back in August 2022. However, her comeback was not something that their head coach Geno Auriemma wanted to talk about after the game.

The UConn Huskies boss is not impressed

The head coach of the Uconn Huskies Geno Auriemma didn’t seem to mince his words at all. In the post-match interview, he was asked about his evaluation of the return of Paige Bueckers. Auriemma replied, “It’s good, I think she’s forcing some things. I think she just needs to let it come to her. She’s is little too anxious to play. Other than that, we’re just slowly working her back in. So far so good, at least she hasn’t fouled out yet like everybody else. It just really is unbelievable, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.” 

The Uconn Huskies showcased an aggressive mindset against Dayton right from the start. As a result, the Huskies players committed several fouls. Geno further added, “There is a fine line between being aggressive and fouling. I don’t know how many free throws they shot, but it’s a lot more than the field goals that they made. Playing hard and being aggressive is great, but the communication and the lack of discipline are gonna put them on the bench. Some fouls can’t be helped I get that but we gotta clean that up immediately.” 

Read More: Being Sidelined With ACL Injury for a Season, What’s the NIL Value of Paige Bueckers?

The No.5 of the Uconn Huskies–Paige Beuckers–is making a comeback in the NCAA after 584 days. She spent more time on the court than in her exhibition match against Southern Connecticut.

Paige Beuckers makes an impactful return

Paige Beuckers took the court on Wednesday night and inspired a dominant 102-58 victory over the Dayton Flyers. The national player of the year in 2021 ended her night scoring 8 points to go with 7 rebounds. In addition to this, she also had 4 assists and 1 steal to her name. After being absent from the court for so long, she managed to commit 21 minutes on the court and had to sit out the entire fourth quarter. Furthermore, 6 out of her 8 points came in the first quarter itself.

The Uconn Huskies have made a positive start to their campaign. Although head coach Geno Auriemma was disappointed by the lack of discipline they showed on the court. Nonetheless, fans will be hoping they can improve on their game and come out even better in their next outing.

Do you also agree with Geno Auriemma? Let us know in the comments section below.

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