Paige Bueckers makes history, but Geno Auriemma shines a light on another UConn star

Paige Bueckers continues to garner endless praise for her stellar on-court performances. Her outstanding efforts helped UConn dominate the Big East once again. As in previous years, the team swept through the competition, solidifying the Huskies’ place at the top of the conference. Bueckers earned the tournament’s MVP award, but her coach, Geno Auriemma, added a surprising twist with his comments.

There’s no doubt that UConn boasts invaluable players, and Paige Bueckers is undeniably one of them. She showcased her incredible basketball skills throughout the tournament, earning the Big East Tournament MVP title for the third time in her career. However, after the final game, Auriemma made comments that initially left some questioning whether Bueckers was the rightful winner.

Geno Auriemma’s thoughts on Paige Bueckers

To be considered the tournament’s MVP, Paige Bueckers had to deliver—and she did. In the championship game alone, UConn’s number 5 scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and made two blocks. Still, Geno Auriemma seemed hesitant to crown her outright, and his words sparked conversations throughout the basketball world.

Although he praised Paige Bueckers, Auriemma didn’t hold back in highlighting another UConn star, rookie Sarah Strong. “I think Sarah (Strong) should have gotten it,” he said. However, he quickly followed up with a thoughtful reflection.

“This is a tremendous achievement for her (Paige Bueckers),” Auriemma continued, but he made it clear that Sarah Strong had a strong case for the award. “Paige is exceptional and does so much,” he commented. “But at another time, in another year, the things Sarah did would make her the MVP, the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. That’s how you win this tournament. It takes contributions from multiple players. But Paige is consistent. And she delivers her best games when we most need her to.”

High expectations and praise

This balance of praise and constructive critique is classic Geno Auriemma—encouraging his players while keeping expectations high. He knows Paige Bueckers is his star, but he also pushes the rest of the team to rise to the occasion and avoid being overshadowed.

In fact, Sarah Strong had an impressive tournament as well, even in the championship game. She didn’t fade into the background, scoring 13 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and tallying six steals. Her stats in previous games also stood out, especially for a first-year player.

A Dominant team

Ultimately, the debate over whether Paige Bueckers or Sarah Strong deserved the MVP award is a testament to the excellent work happening within UConn. The team’s dominance and Auriemma’s coaching strategies seem to be hitting all the right notes, as the Huskies swept almost every major award in the conference.

There was something for everyone. Paige Bueckers was named Big East Player of the Year, but Strong didn’t go unnoticed, earning the Big East Freshman of the Year title. Auriemma himself was honored as Co-Coach of the Year. The question now is whether the team has what it takes to win the national championship. With their current roster, it seems they’re heading in the right direction.