Paige Bueckers of UConn, Caitlin Clark, and JuJu Watkins are the other finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award.
Famous guard Paige Bueckers was named a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award for the second time in her career on Tuesday, less than twenty-four hours after she guided the UConn women’s basketball team to their 30th consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.
Despite having injury-plagued seasons as a sophomore and junior, Bueckers, a redshirt junior, became the first rookie to win the Naismith Trophy in 2021. In order to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the thirty-first time in a row, the women’s basketball team at UConn defeated Syracuse 72-64.
The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team is returning to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the thirty-first season in a row under head coach Geno Auriemma.
The Huskies, ranked third, defeated Syracuse, ranked sixth, in their season-ending match at Gampel Pavilion, 72-64, to guarantee their spot in the Portland 3 regional. In a Sunday second-round contest, UConn will take on 7-seed Duke, who defeated 2-seed Ohio State.
Defense was a major factor in the Huskies’ victory, particularly the guards’ effort to restrict Syracuse star Dyashia Fair. Despite finishing with twenty points in the game, the senior, who is third in NCAA history in career points, was restricted to only two in the first half. After the break, Fair started to establish some rhythm, going 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, but she only shot 1-for-7 from the field and missed all of her 3-point attempts in the first half.
Senior point guard Nik Muhl stated, “She’s probably the hardest player I’ve ever had to guard in my life, which is huge to say because I’ve had to guard some really, really good players.” However, I was focused on that task today and didn’t give a damn about other things. My teammates helped me by filling up the holes; I’ll face guard her and make sure she doesn’t catch it. We have that defense strategy in place because it’s never a one-man show. There is never a one-on-one clash between us. Players like that always require a team effort.
On March 25, 2024, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, during the second round of the NCAA Tournament, UConn Huskies guard Nika Muhl (10) closes in on Syracuse Orange guard Dyaisha Fair (2). Muhl’s pass to Ashlynn Shade vaulted him above previous star Moriah Jefferson to become the UConn assist leader. Special to the Courant: Photo by Cloe Poisson
With over half of the team’s 39 points in the first half, and a game-winning jump shot at the buzzer to cap off the half, star guard Paige Bueckers placed UConn on the offensive offensive overload. She recorded her second straight double-double—and her second career in an NCAA Tournament game—finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. She scored at least 20 points in 11 of UConn’s previous 12 games, making it her fourth 30-point game of the year.
“She doesn’t just come down here and throw something up to gain points; she performs the tasks we need her to perform in order to win games. According to Auriemma, “She misses shots that she could easily make.” Only the ten rebounds, six assists, and four steals are shown in the statistic. What makes them so amazing, though, is when they occur and how they affect the game. This squad will succeed as long as she can maintain that kind of lead, in my opinion.
The Orange led by as much as four points after Syracuse opened the game on a scorching four-point shooting showing. Though Bueckers scored 12 of her 20 points in the first half in the second quarter, the Huskies were only one point ahead at the half.
As the program’s career assist leader with 663, Muhl led UConn with five assists. After Ashlynn Shade was set up for her second 3-pointer of the game, she passed the ball to her 660th assist, breaking the record held by Moriah Jefferson from 2012–16.
As I look back on it, I can see that this is a shared success with all of my teammates who have supported me since I was a freshman. It means a lot, Muhl said. It has far greater significance as it is a joint achievement and has the atmosphere of a team effort. It demonstrates our ability to put each other in the greatest possible positions to succeed and the selflessness of basketball.
Just one rebound away from reaching 1,000 in her career, All-American forward Aaliyah Edwards pulled down 11 rebounds. Her 18th double-double of the season came with 11 more points.
Syracuse put up eight consecutive points, including Fair’s first 3-pointer of the game, to send UConn into a four-minute scoring slump. After blocking a breakaway with a jump jumper, Shade finished the third quarter with a buzzer beater to give UConn an 11-point advantage going into the fourth quarter. In UConn’s first-round game against Jackson State, the rookie scored a career-high 26 points and shot 5-for-9 from outside the arc. He ended up with 19 points.
At Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, on March 25, 2024, during an NCAA Tournament second round game versus Syracuse, UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) congratulates teammate Ashlynn Shade (12) on making a three-pointer. The final score was 72–64 for UConn. Special to the Courant: Photo by Cloe Poisson
After Muhl fouled out with five minutes remaining in the game, Syracuse almost ruined the Huskies’ otherwise overwhelming performance. The advantage was reduced to just four points by back-to-back threes from Syracuse with under three minutes remaining in the game, but freshman KK Arnold’s 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining helped the Huskies hold on. With two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and ten points in the end, Arnold was successful.
In reality, Bueckers stated, “We had the wrong approach tonight because we had been in that position before against Notre Dame.” Both, I believe, came to me as we drew up the high ball screen. As the person on the wing approached to protect me, KK was completely exposed. Seeing that shot go in and her hard work paying off, together with her confidence to step up and make the big shot, were, in my opinion, the culmination of her labor. Observing that was very amazing.