If you aren't on the Paige Bueckers hype train, you better hurry. The first-year 5'11 guard has been must-watch TV this season, especially in recent weeks. In February alone, Bueckers is averaging 29 points, four assists, 2.5 steals on 59 percent shooting from the floor. Including a 31-point outing win against No. 1 South Carolina.
PAIGE BUECKERS 🔥
First player in UConn history with 3 straight 30-point games.
32 PTS (13/20 FG) 7 AST, 5 3PT
30 PTS (12/18 FG) 6 3PTS
31 PTS (14/26 FG) 6 STL, 5 AST@UConnWBB | @paigebueckers1 pic.twitter.com/p4RR0KnHpI— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 9, 2021
Bueckers became the first player in UConn history to score 30+ points in three straight games during that run. The amazing Breanna Stewart didn't do it, nor did legend Sue Bird, Maya Moore, or the best WNBA player ever, Diana Taurasi.
"It's been a long time since one player has had to carry a team as much as she's had to in some of these games"
Geno Auriemma tries to recall if there has been a freshman at UConn that's played at the level Paige Bueckers is playing at now pic.twitter.com/b3WbemaQ1o— UConn Videos (@SNYUConn) February 9, 2021
In perspective to the rest of college basketball, Bueckers is in the top-25 in the country in points per game (21.3), assist per game (5.5) and field goal percentage (56.5).
Buecker's path has always been destined for greatness. She led Hopkins High School in Minnesota to a 30-0 record her senior year and to the state championship, which was canceled due to the coronavirus. That would have been the perfect ending to her high school career, but she already has a full trophy case.
- 2019-20 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year
- 2020 McDonald's, SLAM and Jordan Brand Classic All-American
- 2020 Naismith Prep Player of the Year
- 2020 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year
- 3x Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year
- 2019-20 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year
- 2019 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year
Oh, and she was the No. 1 ranked recruit in the country. Obviously.
The UConn record books are indeed in danger of Bueckers and the potential she has shown on the court. Many reports coming out of high school thought she was a better passer than a scorer. And for the pressure she might face or scrutiny, it's not something she hasn't encountered before. There were 16, 17-year-olds chanting overrated at Bueckers while she torched their team during her high school run.
The next goal and one of the only accomplishments Bueckers hasn't done, is winning a National Championship at the collegiate level. UConn sits at 15-1 and No. 2 in the country. With six games left in the season, one being tonight at Georgetown, I like Bueckers and the Huskies chances to be the last team standing.
Read More
- Breanna Stewart named one of SI's Sportsperson of 2020
- Elena Delle Donne Reveals the Ins-And-Outs of Her MVP Diet
