Geno Auriemma & Paige Bueckers Unhappy With UConn Despite Win Against Seton Hall

Just three days after stunning then-No. 6 South Carolina in their biggest win of the season, the Huskies (15-0) entered Wednesday’s game against Seton Hall with high expectations and confidence. And all of this makes more sense considering UConn was riding a five-game winning streak after enduring a tough loss against Tennessee. However, the game took some unexpected turns and twists. UConn’s performance early on showed a lack of energy and communication. All the intensity from Sunday’s victory was nearly gone.

“No momentum carried over into this game. No momentum at all,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma told SNY after first half“… Kids are immature today, man. We go down there and get a great win, and they think that win is going to make these guys roll over. … This is nonsense.”

And he’s right. The Huskies failed to communicate on switches and keep up, allowing the Pirates—who entered the game with an 18-8 record—to capitalize. Midway through the second quarter, Seton Hall shrunk a double-digit deficit to just two points. Not only that, but they also held the Huskies scoreless for about four and a half minutes.

“The idea of playing basketball is more about decision-making, making sure that we’re connected and playing five-on-five, and that players are in tune with each other, and you’re getting contributions from a lot of people at key times,” Geno added.

Ashlynn Shade and Sarah Strong found themselves in early foul trouble and were sidelined soon after. But it wasn’t just defense that needed improvement for the Huskies. Even on the offensive end, accuracy and intention were lacking. Despite being able to move the ball around, plays seemed rushed and sloppy.

What else do you expect? UConn had eight turnovers by halftime and went just 1-of-7 from the three-point line. However, Geno wasn’t the only one concerned. The projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers, echoed similar frustration. “Our response right away wasn’t great in terms of starting out aggressive, throwing the first punch. I think it shouldn’t have to take us a half to really settle in,” Bueckers said when asked about the recent win. Even, she’s right. It was only after halftime that UConn locked in and completely dominated Seton Hall.

Despite a slow star, UConn overcomes Pirates due to Paige Bueckers’s consistent efforts.

UConn shot 63.5% from the field, nearly doubling Seton Hall’s 36.5%, proving that UConn is far more effective when executing their offense. The Pirates, on the other hand, despite having a slightly better three-point percentage, managed just 19 field goals compared to UConn’s 33.

It wasn’t just on offense—the Huskies later dominated on the defensive end as well. They won the rebounding battle 35-21, including 26 defensive boards compared to the Pirates’ 12. In the end, the team didn’t disappoint, closing the game with a dominant 91-49 victory over Seton Hall. And it was a double win for the Huskies, as Bueckers put up 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

Her performance was enough to move her past UConn legend Diana Taurasi into ninth place on the program’s all-time scoring list. Now, Bueckers and company will head into their final road trip of the regular season, facing Butler on Saturday.