Despite An Injury-Worn Year, Can Paige Bueckers Bring A Title Home For UConn Huskies?

The University of Connecticut Huskies campaign has been marred by injuries. Behind their fruitful 10-3 run rests a history of consequential injuries that at one point looked to put a disheartening end to their NCAA campaign. However, as evident from their record the UConn have coped well. A major question that strikes all fans is if the UConn can continue their hardwood brilliance and bring home the national title?

Before we dive deep into the question, it is necessary to talk about their injuries and setbacks, and what they lack. Shockingly, they have been victims of three big setbacks this season.

The Setbacks

The freshman Jana El Alfy injured her Achilles tendon in a 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in July. El Alfy was supposed to be playing the role of a center at the UConn team. The Egyptian baller is 6 feet 5 inches tall which would have benefited the Huskies a lot as she could have contributed with her height to improve their defense and give a better offensive performance.

As per CT Insider, El Alfy had joined the UConn a semester earlier to prepare for the the upcoming NCAA tournament and adjust her playing style according to the team. Fans can only imagine the havoc she would have wrecked had she been playing this season. The UConn saw a lot of damage as one of their veteran players got injured.

The UConn guard Azzi Fudd tore her medial meniscal tear and ACL of her right knee during a practice in November. Fudd was the second fiddle to their star player Paige Bueckers. She had smashed a whopping 15.1 points per match during the last NCAA season. The Huskies were relying a lot on Fudd when it came to hoping for the NCAA Championship title this year.

With Fudd’s absence, the onus of cruising to a win rests on Bueckers and adds all the more pressure on her. Fudd played only 2 games and potted a season-high of 13 points during their season opener against the Dayton Flyers. The 21-year-old would have added a shooting option to the UConn roster since she dropped a spectacular 34% three-pointers during last year’s NCAA tournament.

Though the Huskies forward Ayanna Patterson didn’t contribute much last season and was sidelined due to a knee injury in this one, no one can deny the transformation players go through when entrusted with more responsibilities. The freshman to sophomore year is one of the major shaping years and who knows if Patterson would have played the role of responsible rotation option that would have helped the Huskies with the role of a connector.

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The UConn have not shown major shortcomings despite their setbacks and look to go undeterred from post to post.

The UConn’s performances

Bueckers has played the central role for the UConn Huskies this season. She leads the Huskies in terms of points average with an astounding 19.2 points per match. She has not only been the alpha for the team but also contributed in defense obstructing 1.3 blocks per game. She has been a resilient force irrespective of the result and that was evident during the UConn’s game against the UCLA Bruins when she besotted a season-high 31 points in a 78-67 loss. 

Other than that her notable performances have come against the Marquette Golden Eagles, and the NC State Wolfpack. She thrashed an unimaginable 25 points against the Golden Eagles that lifted her team to victory by a 95-64 margin. Whereas against the NC State the Huskies lost the game by 92-81 albeit a tough performance was put up by Bueckers who smoked 27 points in their disappointing loss.

Bueckers also smashed 26 points against the North Carolina Tar Heels which impressed all. With a spectacular 50% three-pointer percentage this season and a swoon-worthy 79.6% free throw percentage, Bueckers has been the go-to player for the Huskies. They have a 10-3 tally as mentioned previously and lead the Big East. But Bueckers is not the one-man player and has never been that ever during her NCAA career. So what has really lifted the UConn?

Going Undeterred: Making up for the Setbacks

The UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards has been a valuable player for the team. Edwards stands second only to Bueckers in points average with 17 points per game. She has filled in the shoes of their star Azzi Fudd. Edwards has not only shown her brilliant offensive skills but has also propelled the team to new heights with her defensive finesse. She has nabbed the team’s highest 8.5 rebounds per game which is really a stat to swoon over.

The Canadian baller has surprised all by becoming the second fiddle to Bueckers. It can also be said that Edwards’s contribution is more than what had been expected of her. It has helped their head coach Geno Auriemma execute their strategies. While Edwards neutralizes the opponent’s offensive plans, Bueckers thwarts the rival’s defensive walls. 

The game has seen other major contributions from players namely Nika Muhl. Muhl has been the beacon of selflessness in this UConn’s team. She has scored only 6.5 points per game but has stunned everyone with her ability to provide assists. Muhl has 5.1 assists per game and that has really helped both Bueckers and Edwards. The UConn have come together as a team and it has been due to a collective effort that they have made a comeback in the tournament despite suffering setbacks.

Can the UConn win the title?

The UConn are currently going great. They have lost only three games one each against the Texas Longhorns, the UCLA Bruins, and the NC State. The UConn can be major contender for the title if their team continues to perform like they have been. Otherwise, there can be a shocking fall for them if Bueckers and Edwards are contained.

There is no denying the fact that they have many dominant scorers barring Bueckers and Edwards. The question looking over them is if their connecting players can become the alpha of the team if the situation demands. The UConn will suffer humiliating defeats if their strategies are countered effectively.

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But if luck favors the UConn, like it has been till now, coupled with the hard work and dedication they have been putting in, who knows they might clinch the NCAA Championship title. All they need is to stick to their team game and that will help them conquer new territories in the NCAA.