UConn guard Paige Bueckers has a sprained left knee, but he is not seriously hurt. STORRS, Conn.
She will not play against Xavier on Wednesday.
In the third quarter of UConn’s victory over Villanova on Sunday, Bueckers suffered a knee injury. She might miss a few games, according to coach Geno Auriemma.
Auriemma stated on Tuesday that it was only a sprain. There’s nothing dramatic about it, nothing ripped. She experienced a particular twisting of her ankle and knee. It’s just something weird. In a week, we hope to have her back.
After Villanova freshman guard Jasmine Bascoe landed on the UConn All-American’s left calf while diving for a loose ball during Sunday’s 83-52 victory over Villanova, Bueckers departed the game. With 1:17 remaining in the third quarter, Bueckers hobbled off the court and never came back.
Before Wednesday’s home game against Xavier, Bueckers leads No. 7 UConn (13-2, 4-0 Big East) with an average of 19.9 points per game and is tied for the team lead with 29 3-pointers.
As a freshman, Bueckers won national player of the year. But during the following two seasons, she was only able to play in 17 games due to injuries. Over the last two seasons, she has started 54 games, and Sunday’s match against Villanova marks the 100th game of her NCAA career.
According to Auriemma, when people have experienced something in the past, they worry about whether they will have to go through it again. That’s the first response. She is fantastic once that is resolved. Yesterday and today, I spoke with her for a long time.
While Bueckers is out, Auriemma stated that Ashlynn Shade, the current Big East Freshman of the Year, will take Bueckers’ place in the starting lineup.
Earlier in the season, when guard Azzi Fudd was recovering from a knee injury, Shade started for UConn.
Kaitlyn Chen, a senior guard for UConn, stated, “I think Coach (Auriemma) did a good job of telling us to be ourselves.” It’s not like we’re attempting to replace her since everyone of us contributes something unique. All they need to do is contribute a little bit more of their strengths.
— Associated Press’s Jim Fuller
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