Bad news for Uconn as Geno Auriemma are cold attitude towards Paige Bueckers

Uconn’s winning channels continued, but Geno Auriemma’s words cut deeper than that of another opponent. Her 71:40 victory against St. Johns secured a place in the semi-finals for the 37th season in follow-up es, which they have not missed since 1988. But the biggest snack was not the latest blowout from the huskies. It was Auriemma’s blunt honesty about the growing injury concerns of the team and Paige -Buecker that made history.

The huskies fought injuries throughout the season, and Auriemma made it clear that the status of a key player for the Big East tournament did not look good. And that’s none other than Aubrey Griffin. When asked whether she would be available for the next game, he did not attract it. “Probably not” he said. No optimism, no hesitation – just the reality that she would not play.

But the concern goes deeper than just this week. Auriemma also admitted that at some point he was not sure whether Griffin – or even Caroline Ducharme – would ever play for Uconn. “If you have a back problem, this is usually the retirement for many athletes”, “ he said. “Then the ACL – there is a lot to overcome.”

While Griffin returned briefly in January after recovering from an ACL tear that she forced her to miss the last half of the past season and the first half of it, auriemma prioritized. She has dealt with knee pain against Marquette since Uconn’s regular season finale. It does not matter that she showed her old herar on lightning and scored 11 points on 5-von-6 shooting and four rebounds in just 13 minutes on the Senior Day. Geno’s focus is due to the fact that it makes itself completely healthy for the NCAA tournament.

“She was really sore after the Marquette game.” Auriemma explained. “Well, thinking was when we had to play them (they play), but if we don’t, it is best to give it all the time so that it is 100% willing to choose the NCAA tournament.” Thus, Griffin was noticeably absent in the Huskies’ pre-games and instead observed from the sidelines that was dressed in a casual welding suit.

Your teammates definitely have to miss Griffin, especially Paige Bueckers, since both are in their senior season. The two should have a triumphal of last season together, but fate had other plans. And it doesn’t help that your class, which was described by Geno Auriemma A Strange make -upwas always identified by separation. In contrast to previous senior classes, such as Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Mühl, who played together for four years, Bueckers and Griffin had the time on the court, disturbed by injuries.

So Bueckers, who knows that the toll injuries can take over- after she had a knee injury that had an impact on the two of her teammate in a row. “It’s hard to see how your teammates go through”, “ Said Busters. “I know what it is like to be and feel like you miss it. She worked so hard to come back, and we all just want to see her how she plays out there and has fun. “

As usual, Uconn took care of the business as usual. The huskies held St. Johns for almost nine minutes without a basket and tore off a 22-0 run. Fudd led early, while Bueckers, Kaitlyn Chen and Jana El Alfy collapsed. The red storm hit a few late threesome, but it was never nearby.

But just as it seemed as if the focus was on the pitch, Auriemma dropped something unexpected – something that made everyone stopped and noticing. Two days ago, Paige Buecker’s story wrote. She was only the third player in Big East History, who won three times the player of the year. She won it again as a newcomer last season and is now adding a third to her name. The only other players who do it? Villanova’s Shelley Pennefather and Uconn’s own Maya Moore.

What was Geno’s blunt remark about?

Paige Bueckers: to prove even more, but ready to shine

Bueckers supported her latest award “Big East Player of the Year” with a strong performance in the 71:40 victory of Uconn against St. John’s. She shot an efficient 56.3% from the field, although she went from depth of 0: 4 and marked the second time this season that she scored more than 20 points without individual three points.

“I just tried to take what the defense gave me” Said Busters. “They played drop coverage, so I was able to get to my places. Even if the three did not fall, I had to find various ways to score a goal. My teammates did great jobs to set screens and open me. “

But then came the real surprise – Geno Auriemma’s blunt setting to Bueckers. If the fans expected praise, they didn’t understand it. When asked if she would finally have it “Turned around the corner”, “ Auriemma did not hesitate. “I don’t think she is turned around the corner.” He said all over. According to him, she is only somehow Around the corner.

This is difficult to hear, especially for a player who fought through injuries and so on to achieve this level. She directed Uconn in the rating, looked aggressively and seemed to be control. But Auriemma was not satisfied. “There are still things that we have to address.” He explained. “It has to be precise. They always have the best defenders. “

This is a classic geno. It does not distribute compliments unless they are deserved, and the standard is not just about a goal. It’s about making the right reads, moving without the ball and increasing the team at any moment. “Little by little we let them better without moving the ball,” he said. “She gets rid of it faster and shoots faster.”

No dramatic praise. Just a memory that work is still to be done.

Nevertheless, he gave her progress a little allusion. “I think we made progress” gave. And that’s the most important snack. Uconn fans may not love to downplay the Buseckers’ progress, but that’s how he works. He asks his players, pushes them and expects them to increase the occasion. And for Bueckers this means that she still has something to prove.

The good news? The NCAA tournament is just around the corner. And when the lights are lightest, Paige Bueckers has the habit of showing up.