The UConn Huskies obtained some optimistic information on Tuesday after star guard Paige Bueckers didn’t return following a clumsy collision in Sunday’s recreation in opposition to Villanova.
Based on ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Bueckers has a knee sprain that will solely hold her out for one week.
The sprain occurred to Bueckers’s left knee, which is identical knee she suffered a torn ACL to in 2022. Luckily, head coach Geno Auriemma informed reporters on Tuesday that nothing was torn.
That is when the damage occurred late within the third quarter of Sunday’s recreation with the Huskies main, 63-37.
The analysis needs to be a sigh of aid for this system. Bueckers was sidelined the complete 2022-23 season with the ACL tear after lacking a lot of the 2021-22 season with a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear. Every of these accidents had been in her left knee.
If the Huskies are going to make their sixteenth Last 4 look within the final 17 seasons, the well being of the 2021 Nationwide Participant of the Yr and sure No. 1 choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft is paramount.
Bueckers is the staff’s main scorer with 19.9 PPG. She additionally places up a median of 4.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.1 SPG and shoots an environment friendly 55.9% from the ground. With 1,982 profession factors in 100 video games, Bueckers solely wants 18 factors to change into the quickest participant in UConn historical past to attain 2,000 factors, which might surpass Maya Moore’s file of 108 video games.
With no ranked opponent on UConn’s schedule till No. 16 Tennessee on Feb. 6, the Huskies (13-2, 4-0 Massive East) have greater than sufficient expertise to win their upcoming video games in opposition to Xavier (5-9, 0-3 Massive East) on Wednesday and Georgetown (8-6, 1-2 Massive East) on Saturday.
Contemplating freshman ahead Sarah Robust (17.5 PPG) is the one different participant averaging double-figure scoring on the staff, UConn should have its star on the courtroom if it’s going to be a critical contender and make one other deep NCAA Event run.
