Popular UConn sophomore All- America guard Paige Bueckers suffered a non-contact knee injury at the end of a 73-54 victory over Noter Dame at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs yesterday that left her team and a sellout crowd of rabid Huskies fans with a mixture of fear and despondency.
With 38 seconds left, Bueckers, the 2021 national Player of the Year who just signed a huge endorsement deal with Gatorade, collapsed to the floor in pain and had to be helped to the sidelines by two teammates. She will get an MRI in the morning to determine the severity of the injury.
‘’You immediately put yourself in that kid’s shoes,’’ UConn Hall of Fame coach Gino Auriemma said. “That’s the part that hits you in the pit of your stomach initial report is that she might have hyper extended it but I think the first thing that goes through your mind is the worst thing.’’
Bueckers led the second-ranked Huskies in scoring with 22 points. She also added four rebounds, four assists and five steals. Until she was injured, she had played every minute of the game even though the Huskies bult a sizeable 18- point lead.
‘‘She never wants to come out,” Auriemma claimed. “She’s a pain in the ass to have to the bench because all she does is complain about why she’s not playing. And we’ve made a concerted effort in the last three or four games to get her some rest during the game. You’re right, I don’t have answers for why she was in the game,’’ Auriemma said. “I mean, it could happen anytime. It could happen in practice. It could happen in a game. d
But I do know I don’t like your team without her on the court. I mean I might have to like it if she doesn’t any time if she doesn’t play.”
Last time we check, Paige Bueckers wasn’t coaching this team. It’s up to Auriemma to manage his best player’s playing time more diligently.
Bueckers had played 38 minutes or more in all but two of UConn’s games.
That’s why too much for any player, let along one of the best players in the country.
