Former UConn Player Questions Paige Bueckers' Aggression During Defeat to USC
The UConn Huskies women's basketball team lost to the USC Trojans on December 21 in what was one of the most compelling games on the 2024-25 college basketball calendar.
While this game undoubtedly delivered for anybody who was watching, UConn fans aren't happy with the game's outcome, given that their team was defeated on their home court.
One sentiment that has surfaced several times this season is the play of UConn star guard Paige Bueckers; specifically about her role on offense, and whether she should be more aggressive in seeking scoring opportunities.
While Bueckers finished the game against USC with 22 points on 9 of 22 shooting from the field, some fans felt like she should have tried to take more control in the game's waning moments.
Former UConn Huskies player and three-time National Champion Maria Conlon expressed this sentiment during a December 24 "Husky Hoops" podcast episode.
"I don't care if you can take over a game against Georgetown," Conlon said. Bueckers scored 24 points in a 79-44 win over Georgetown on December 15.
"I mean, [Bueckers] made some decently big shots the other day, but... the last two and a half minutes of the game, Sarah Strong wanted the ball and took over and did what we needed her to do on both ends."
She later added, "Sarah Strong misses the last free throw, Paige gets the rebound. Now, if you're Paige... if this is Diana Taurasi and she gets that rebound, is there any scenario on this planet where she kicks it out to Barbara Turner at the top of the key?"
Husky alum Maria Conlon getting on Paige 😂 pic.twitter.com/vsjBXAsCZi
— Bi⚡️ERK (@BizerkJerk) December 26, 2024
While many who've seen this clip don't agree with Conlon's last take because Bueckers didn't have full control of the ball, it's interesting to hear her discuss Strong being UConn's most assertive player in the final few minutes instead of Bueckers.
Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.