Geno Auriemma: Paige Bueckers wants to be 'superhuman'
For the 22nd time in his career, Geno Auriemma has led the UConn Huskies to the Final Four, beating the USC Trojans to get to that point. A huge reason for that run this season has been the play of star player, Paige Bueckers.
Following the win against USC, Auriemma praised Bueckers for her competitive drive and her desire to be superhuman.
“Well, Paige always wants to be superhuman,” Geno Auriemma said. “You can’t aspire to be that, but she tries her damnedest to be superhuman.”
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“Today she was playing against somebody who plays like they’re superhuman. I think that was probably the toughest matchup that any of those guards had throughout the entire season – maybe since they’ve gotten to Connecticut. I think JuJu [Watkins] is probably as difficult a matchup as there is, or has been, for our players.”
UConn beat USC 80-73. That wouldn’t have been possible without the play of Paige Bueckers. She had a double-double in the win, with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the win. That led all scorers on UConn and was only surpassed by JuJu Watkins.
“But for Paige, this is what I live for. I live for these moments. I think she almost looks at it as they have to guard me, too. I’m a tough matchup for them. She always tries to make it our team against their team. But I do know that she’s pretty proud full. She was pointing to her 10 rebounds. I pointed to JuJu’s 10 rebounds. She had an excuse why JuJu got 10 or why she didn’t get 15. She said she was busy locking up somebody, she didn’t get 15,” Auriemma said.
“When you have players that think like there’s nothing I can’t do, there’s nothing that escapes me, they’re just on another level. They play the game on another level. They think on a different level. They inspire everybody around them. So, yeah, today was Paige doing Paige things.”
Now, Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers, and the rest of the UConn Huskies will turn their attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four. There, Bueckers is going to battle with Caitlin Clark in a highly anticipated game.
Paige Bueckers reflects on her ‘rewarding’ journey through injury, basketball
Getting to this stage has taken overcoming adversity, including injury, for Paige Bueckers. It’s a journey that she recently reflected on.
“Yeah, last year was — the last couple years have been really challenging on my mental, of me finding joy outside of the game, finding joy in the process, finding joy in trials and tribulations,” Bueckers said. “I feel like I’ve had adversity thrown my way, but at the same time I’m super blessed. I got surgery for free, I got rehab for free. I’m surrounded by the best teammates, best coaching staff. So many people have helped me get to where I’m at today.”
Paige Bueckers has gone through a severe knee injury that cost her part of her sophomore season and her entire junior season.
“Looking at the positives in life, what I do have, instead of focusing on what I don’t. Again, trying to be the best teammate I can be. It could be easy for me to sulk and be upset and just be sad about what life has thrown me this past couple years, or I could attack it with the mentality of being a leader, still being in the gym smiling, motivating people, being a leader in how I worked. I know people saw me in the gym every single day, whether it be Pilates, rehab, in the weight room, stuff like that. So that’s motivating for other people to see, as well,” Bueckers said.
“Just today was one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve ever felt in my life, just seeing where I was a year ago, today, doing individual workouts, starting to feel the basketball again, get the ball in my hands again and play. Now I’m here with my teammates and coaching staff and going to the Final Four. It’s been a very rewarding journey. I’m super, super grateful for it all. The tough times made me who I am. It’s built my faith. It’s built my appreciation for life and gratitude for anything that gets thrown my way.”