Legendary UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma had huge praise for superstar Paige Bueckers recently. Auriemma didn’t hold back in praising the former National Player of the Year, saying she was the most aggressive he’d ever seen her in her career.
On Thursday, Bueckers responded to that praise. At first, she jokingly said she took it as a compliment.
“He called me a ball hog. I’m taking that as a compliment right now, honestly,” Bueckers told reporters through laughter. She then recentered her focus and discussed the changes she went through this offseason.
“Yeah, I think also a huge thing this summer was a complete shift in mindset. Obviously, having the game like I did in the Final Four wasn’t what I wanted to have And I think it really set in, and it really stung me in a good type of way where I had a reality check,” the Huskies star revealed. “I sat down with myself and wanted to get my goals out in front of me and know how can I attain those goals. I think I just had a completely different change of mindset with how I wanna approach basketball and how I wanna play on the court.”
Bueckers added, “I think I’ve always had this confidence about myself that I think every shot I shoot is going in. But when I’ve had a whole entire summer to work on it, and spend so much time in the gym, and get stronger, and work on different types of shots and different types of plays, it makes you super confident on the court.”
Once again, it sounds like she’s found a new gear. If so, everyone should be afraid.
