UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers keeps finding ways to amaze.
The second-ranked Huskies defeated 14th-ranked North Carolina on Friday afternoon. The former National Player of the Year had another strong showing with 29 points to her name.
Some have described the former top-ranked recruit as a “generational” player. That included Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart.
“Paige is really special. We’ve got an opportunity to watch a generational player for a couple more games before she goes on to the pros,” Banghart said via For The Win.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma couldn’t help himself in responding to that claim and label.
“Well, I’ve been around a lot of generations, so I’ve had a lot of generational players that people described as generational,” Auriemma said. The amount of decorated players to go through UConn is steep. From Sue Bird to Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore to Breanna Stewart, the best of the best have played in Storrs. But Bueckers has certainly earned that recognition at this point.
“I guess this is true. So, what makes them that?” Auriemma said. “The ability to perform at an incredibly high level and an even higher level than you expect. And you already expect the most, and yet, [Bueckers] gives you even more than that. And I think that’s probably the best description I can give you, is that she never fails to live up to your expectations of her, and then even goes above that”
“Some people are just born with that gift, and she has the gift,” the UConn legend said. “Some people squander those gifts. Every day, she works really hard to polish those gifts.”
Bueckers and her sensational play will continue to be watched the rest of the way. UConn is, as always, expected to contend to win the National Championship this coming spring.
