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Can UConn dodge the injury bug this season? Will Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd be able to play a full season together? UConn’s teams the last three years have absolutely hampered their title aspirations. The Huskies have had the talent to truly compete for a championship the past few years, but the injuries were a detriment and there wasn’t enough depth to overcome it. Let’s hope they don’t need it, but they may have it now with this roster.
The Importance of Having Paige AND Azzi
Over the span of their careers together, they’ve only played 17 games together. Bueckers has solidified herself as one of, if not the, best players in the country. While Fudd’s gravity as a shooter is something we’ve rarely ever seen. She is a career 38% three-point shooter, and shot a blistering 43% in her freshman season where she played the most games of her career. She was only able to play two games last season before tearing her ACL, so her timetable to return to the floor is still unknown but should be within the first month of the season.
Paige’s two full seasons are two of the best we’ve ever seen. She won every possible Player of the Year award in her freshman season. Last season she was a First Team All-American averaging 22 points, five rebounds and four assists. My favorite aspect of Paige’s game will always be the efficiency. She’s shot well over 50% from the field every season she’s played and over 40% from three in two of three seasons. Bueckers has always been an exceptional defender, but last season was incredible. Due to injuries, at 6’0, she played the power forward spot and ended the season with 86 steals and 53 (!) blocks. She is an all-around phenomenal basketball player and has a legitimate chance at becoming a two-time NPOY.
Azzi is the kind of scorer who always seems unfazed; it feels like she’s never rushed, sped up or forced to do something she doesn’t want to. She is even keeled at all times and has shown the ability to be the first option and still be efficient. Her attention to detail, footwork and movement without the ball is beautiful to watch. Fudd plays a very fundamentally based style, and it is incredibly effective for her. She is far from a one-dimensional catch and shoot player. She’s more than capable of creating off the dribble and getting a shot she’s comfortable with.
How much does Sarah Strong contribute her freshman season?
Strong is a 6’2 forward with an intriguing skillset. Her ability to shoot the three at an elite level makes her virtually unguardable. A ton of her game is played on the perimeter both running plays and looking to score. She is capable of being the roller, initiator and to pop off of pick and roll actions. Strong can create for others in the post and is advanced in her understanding of how and when to make herself available. I’m really interested to see what role she plays and how much better she’ll be playing with the talent UConn has. Sarah Strong has the talent to put this team over the hump if they’re able to stay healthy.
Health and Depth
While senior Aubrey Griffin and junior Caroline Ducharme won’t be ready to start the season, Geno still has many options at his display. Griffin tore her ACL mid-season, so her timetable is unknown as well. Ducharme has unfortunately dealt with head and neck injuries throughout her collegiate career. In turn KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade both averaged 30 minutes per game last season and had crucial moments in important games.
Geno added more experience to his backcourt with Kaitlyn Chen. She will look to bring the same type of experience Lou Lopez Senechal did. Chen is a gifted passer and efficient scorer. The minutes with her and Paige on the court together will be so intriguing. Freshmen Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli could contribute this season, because you never truly know what’s in store for any given team.
Although they Aaliyah Edwards graduated and went to the WNBA; the frontcourt is still filled with plenty of talent. Ice Brady, missed her inaugural freshman season due to a torn ACL, returns for her redshirt sophomore season, while Ayanna Patterson and Jana El Alfy return from major injuries. Brady will be ready right away, but it will take some before all of them are available at the same time.
Can Paige hoist a National Championship trophy?
Gone are the days of UConn winning the championship year in and year out. But there is an expectation for one every single year, and they haven’t won it all since 2016. The game has grown, talent is more spread out and more schools have the equipment and accommodations necessary. All that being said, Paige came back for one more year for one reason. To cement her legacy at the giant that is the University of Connecticut by winning the National Title.
Luck certainly hasn’t been on their side the last seven years, but no one wants to hear the excuses. The team has to stay healthy, and if they are, they have as good a chance as any team in the country. Bueckers will need all of her teammates at her side for it to happen, but will it?
