By Can UConn dodge the injury bug this season? Will Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd be able to play a full season together? Aubrey Griffin and Caroline Ducharme have been hampered by injuries in their collegiate careers as well. They bring back Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold, while bringing in the number one recruit in the country in Sarah Strong. Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen will bring a similar experience that Lou Lopez Senechal brought a few years back. Chen is one of the best guards in the country. Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli add depth and different options at the guard and wing. The Huskies have had the talent 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. There’s no one better at getting to their preferred spots offensively then Bueckers. 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 is 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 details, footwork and movement without the ball is beautiful to watch. Fudd plays a very fundamentally based style, but it is unbelievably effective for her. She is far from a one-dimensional scorer; as good of a shooter she is, she’s still more than capable of creating and shooting a mid-range shot or finishing at the rim.
How does Sarah Strong contribute immediately?
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 is Wealth and Depth is Crucial
While Aubrey Griffin and Caroline Ducharme won’t be ready to start the season, Geno still has many options in his arsenal. KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade played huge minutes last season and had key moments in important games. Geno added more experience to his backcourt with Kaitlyn Chen. Chen is a gifted passer and efficient scorer. I’m so intrigued to see what minutes with her and Paige will look like.
The frontcourt is filled with talent too. Ice Brady returns for her sophomore season, while Ayanna Patterson and Jana El Alfy return from injury. Freshmen Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli could contribute this season, because you never truly know what’s in store for any given team.
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?
