Paige Bueckers Knows UConn’s History. She’s Paving Its Future.

Bueckers played all 45 minutes of that game, a sign of how heavily No. 1-ranked UConn (16-1) has come to depend on the 19-year-old guard to lead the Huskies in just about everything — minutes, scoring average, steals, three-point percentage, assists. In its history, UConn has only relied as heavily on a handful of freshman who became household names. In this pandemic-shortened season, Bueckers likely won’t touch hallowed volume records like Maya Moore’s freshman scoring record (678 points) but, shooting 55.4 percent on 3-pointers heading into the season’s final stretch, she could obliterate efficiency measures like Sue Bird’s single-season 3-point record of 49.7 percent set in 1999-00.

“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,” UConn Coach Geno Auriemma said after the South Carolina game.

Moore, Bird, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart all joined UConn teams with more veteran leadership. Bueckers is leading a Huskies team with no seniors that plays six freshmen in significant roles. This young team is taking shape in a shortened season that was paused in December due to the coronavirus pandemic, and where several notable programs opted out of playing. Still, it is UConn’s first season back in the Big East Conference and many expect the program to return to its familiar standing — on top.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/sports/ncaabasketball/paige-bueckers-uconn.html