SAN ANTONIO – UConn’s first-year star Paige Bueckers made a major entry into the Huskies’ NCAA tournament heritage on Sunday, setting a school record for most points in a tournament debut with 24 in a 102-59 rout. in High Point of 16 seeds.
The highly acclaimed guard, named to The Associated Press All-America team last week, added nine rebounds and six assists, while principal Huskies lost the advantage without his coach, Geno Auriemma, on the bench due to the COVID-19 protocols. .
“I was really excited to get out of here,” said Bueckers. “We have been practicing since August for March Madness and we are very excited for that to happen. We know from the ups and downs of this year, we are very excited and blessed to be here.”
For Bueckers, however, besides her playing well, nothing was as normal in her first tournament game. After all, Auriemma watched the home game in Connecticut, with longtime associate coach Chris Dailey replacing. Bueckers, however, could still feel Auriemma’s presence.
“I could hear the coach yelling in my ear. I think in the first quarter, I took about two pictures, so I know he was yelling at the TV, I know he was yelling at me,” she said. “I kind of knew that in the second half, so I tried to be more aggressive.”
Bueckers said she was nervous before any game, but in an opening tournament match with unusual circumstances – like playing in an empty Alamodome – she showed the type of stance she became known for. She didn’t reveal her inexperience until after the game, when she brazenly geeked out while having ESPN’s Holly Rowe interviewing her.
“It’s a year of debuts, and I just wanted to say that I am a big fan of Holly Rowe and it has always been a dream of mine to be interviewed by her after a game,” she said with a big smile. “So, I’m excited to be here.”
Bueckers did start off slow, but visibly asserted himself after an ankle injury from early point guard Nika Muhl, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the first half in a flurry of attempts at the basket and jumpers.
“She likes to feel the game and to involve her teammates,” said Dailey. “I thought we needed to start making moves to get your shots. We did, and it helped a lot.
“Her flexion reminds me a lot of Sue Bird. When Sue Bird pulled the bar, I thought it was automatic and she never made a mistake,” said Dailey. “And I think the same light with Paige, it’s just automatic with his pull-up.”
Bueckers said the change of coach was “different”, but stressed the importance that the continuity of Dailey’s experience provided.
“Coach and CD have been doing this for 36 years, so they obviously have a very high IQ for basketball,” said Bueckers. “When the coach leaves, CD steps forward. Obviously, it is different to have the coach yelling at us and CD yelling at us, but they are both great basketball minds and we can count on both.”
Bueckers took on a leadership role among young Huskies, unusual for a team historically full of experienced depth and star power. But with seven freshmen and no veterans, Bueckers accepted the burden of responsibility, something Dailey said he often brings up the next march on her.
“Paige absolutely has other equipment. The more physical the game, if she thinks she is missing, the equipment comes faster,” said Dailey. “Paige has other equipment, and when she reaches that point, it is difficult to stop it.”
Although the Huskies dealt with High Point relatively easily, they know that the games will be more difficult from here. Number 8, Syracuse, awaits them on Tuesday, Auriemma’s 67th birthday.
Bueckers is already thinking about the obvious gift.
“I hope to achieve a victory,” she said, “so that he can come here with us.”
Sunday was the 12th time in his debut season that Bueckers topped 20 points, and the 24 points tied for fourth place by a UConn freshman in the NCAA tournament since 2000, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.