Azzi Fudd has Finally Arrived

[oldude]

During the 2018-19 season, Azzi Fudd was just a sophomore at St John’s College HS, playing in the tough Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. She had one of the sweetest shots you had ever seen and a remarkably well-developed, all-around game. Despite her young age, Azzi became the first sophomore ever to be named Gatorade National POY, ahead of a tremendously talented player from Hopkins, MN who would become her BFF and teammate at UConn. Basketball pundits and college recruiters alike anointed Azzi as one of the best prep players ever.

Unfortunately, the following year Azzi incurred her first major knee injury, which required surgery, wiping out her junior year of HS basketball. With Azzi recuperating, her friend Paige was named the Gatorade National POY. Much of her senior year was cancelled due to the covid pandemic, but Azzi was still the #1 HS recruit in the country. UConn fans were thrilled when she announced that she would join Paige in Storrs for the 2021-22 season, in what we all anticipated would be the best one-two combination since Sue & DT.

But Azzi’s knee injuries were not over, and Paige’s were just beginning. For the next three seasons, one or the other, or both, were frequently injured. The promise of having the best backcourt in basketball never really materialized for UConn. With Paige coming back for one last season this year and Azzi rehabbing from her latest knee surgery there was cautious optimism about what this season might hold.

Paige was great from the get go. But we had to wait 4 games for Azzi to be cleared to play, and then another 4 games while Azzi knocked the rust off before Geno installed her in the starting lineup. While there were flashes of brilliance, the Azzi Fudd who was a tremendous 3-level scorer, solid defender with quick hands and dime-dropping facilitator, was not quite as we had remembered or hoped for. That all changed when UConn faced their biggest challenge of the season against SC in Columbia on February 16, before a sold-out arena on national tv.

Azzi started out slowly. But in the 3rd qtr Azzi exploded for 18 points, on her way to 28 for the game, in what would be a shocking 29-point upset victory for the Huskies. From that game on, Azzi has generally been the player we had all hoped she would be back in 2021 when she first arrived at Storrs. Azzi, Paige and super-freshman Sarah Strong comprise UConn’s 3-headed monster who, along with the deepest and most talented team in years, have a legitimate shot to bring home championship # 12.

Azzi is shooting lights out, and her pursuit of the Holy Grail of shooting (50/40/90) would be national news if not for the fact that she is 2nd on her own team to Paige, who has currently surpassed that mark. But Azzi is not just a shooter. In the 1st Round victory over Ark St, not only did she lead UConn in scoring with 27 pts on 10/13 shooting, but Azzi also led the team with 7 assists and 6 steals. Azzi is a complete player and one of the very best guards in WBB.

It has been a long time coming for Azzi. I won’t say that it was worth the wait. But watching Azzi play with skill and confidence over the past month or so has been thrilling. UConn is rolling. The Huskies lead the nation in defense, point differential, assist to turnover ratio and shooting percentage. Azzi’s return to form is a huge part of that equation. Best of all, Azzi has just rewarded UConn fans everywhere with the wonderful news that we will all get to watch her at UConn for one more season.

Azzi Fudd has finally arrived!!!

 

[HuskyPhan]

So happy I can wear my much loved Azzi t-shirt for another season of Uconn Women's games! She is one of my all-time favorites and it will be amazing to see what she can do as one of the team leaders next year!!

 

[oldude]

Leading up to Azzi’s decision to return we heard that Geno wanted an answer shortly after the BE tournament and that Azzi was systematically weighing the pros & cons. But Geno is sly like a fox. When Paige was inducted into the HOH during Senior Day it was the first time ever that a player who had not actually completed her playing days was afforded that honor.

Obviously, Geno wanted to give Paige the opportunity to celebrate that honor in front of a packed house at Gampel, along with her teammates. But in doing so on Senior Day, there may have been one particular teammate that Geno was sending a message to, and that would be Azzi, and the subtle message to Azzi would have been, “Your name belongs up there too.”

 

[huskyd]

During the 2018-19 season, Azzi Fudd was just a sophomore at St John’s College HS, playing in the tough Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. She had one of the sweetest shots you had ever seen and a remarkably well-developed, all-around game. Despite her young age, Azzi became the first sophomore ever to be named Gatorade National POY, ahead of a tremendously talented player from Hopkins, MN who would become her BFF and teammate at UConn. Basketball pundits and college recruiters alike anointed Azzi as one of the best prep players ever.

Unfortunately, the following year Azzi incurred her first major knee injury, which required surgery, wiping out her junior year of HS basketball. With Azzi recuperating, her friend Paige was named the Gatorade National POY. Much of her senior year was cancelled due to the covid pandemic, but Azzi was still the #1 HS recruit in the country. UConn fans were thrilled when she announced that she would join Paige in Storrs for the 2021-22 season, in what we all anticipated would be the best one-two combination since Sue & DT.

But Azzi’s knee injuries were not over, and Paige’s were just beginning. For the next three seasons, one or the other, or both, were frequently injured. The promise of having the best backcourt in basketball never really materialized for UConn. With Paige coming back for one last season this year and Azzi rehabbing from her latest knee surgery there was cautious optimism about what this season might hold.

Paige was great from the get go. But we had to wait 4 games for Azzi to be cleared to play, and then another 4 games while Azzi knocked the rust off before Geno installed her in the starting lineup. While there were flashes of brilliance, the Azzi Fudd who was a tremendous 3-level scorer, solid defender with quick hands and dime-dropping facilitator, was not quite as we had remembered or hoped for. That all changed when UConn faced their biggest challenge of the season against SC in Columbia on February 16, before a sold-out arena on national tv.

Azzi started out slowly. But in the 3rd qtr Azzi exploded for 18 points, on her way to 28 for the game, in what would be a shocking 29-point upset victory for the Huskies. From that game on, Azzi has generally been the player we had all hoped she would be back in 2021 when she first arrived at Storrs. Azzi, Paige and super-freshman Sarah Strong comprise UConn’s 3-headed monster who, along with the deepest and most talented team in years, have a legitimate shot to bring home championship # 12.

Azzi is shooting lights out, and her pursuit of the Holy Grail of shooting (50/40/90) would be national news if not for the fact that she is 2nd on her own team to Paige, who has currently surpassed that mark. But Azzi is not just a shooter. In the 1st Round victory over Ark St, not only did she lead UConn in scoring with 27 pts on 10/13 shooting, but Azzi also led the team with 7 assists and 6 steals. Azzi is a complete player and one of the very best guards in WBB.

It has been a long time coming for Azzi. I won’t say that it was worth the wait. But watching Azzi play with skill and confidence over the past month or so has been thrilling. UConn is rolling. The Huskies lead the nation in defense, point differential, assist to turnover ratio and shooting percentage. Azzi’s return to form is a huge part of that equation. Best of all, Azzi has just rewarded UConn fans everywhere with the wonderful news that we will all get to watch her at UConn for one more season.

Azzi Fudd has finally arrived!!!

Oooh, OD, I remember a few years back when you were an Azzi sceptic. I welcome your conversion. It's you who's finally arrived!

 

[Henry]

I don't believe Paige was the first HOH inducted on Senior Day. I was at Senior Day for Stewie and Moriah, and they were inducted then. As long as a player reached all-American before Senior Day, they were inducted on Senior Day.

 

[oldude]

I don't believe Paige was the first HOH inducted on Senior Day. I was at Senior Day for Stewie and Moriah, and they were inducted then. As long as a player reached all-American before Senior Day, they were inducted on Senior Day.

I don’t specifically recall that honor occurring on Senior Day of Stewie & MO’s senior season, and there is also the requirement that players so honored earn their degree. Paige earned her degree last year. Senior Day occurs in early March, and I am not aware that Stewie & Mo had their degrees by that point in their senior year.

Nonetheless, the ceremony for Paige may have had an impact on Azzi’s decision to return. Whether it did or not, we are all delighted to have Azzi at UConn for another year.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

When Azzi started barreling and slithering inside and demonstrated her confounding lay up skills that was my hot diggity dog moment with Azzi. It said my confidence is all the way back and you better get out of my way.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

In case anybody needs reminding what her staying means to us:

 

[Charliebball]

She's arrived but now she needs to push UConn to knock down the NC door!!

 

[kidfrom360]

On Uconn's IG story, during their send off... I noticed Azzi wearing a boot on her right foot. Hopefully it's for minor/precautionary reasons and she's good to go for Saturday.

 

[oldude]

On Uconn's IG story, during their send off... I noticed Azzi wearing a boot on her right foot. Hopefully it's for minor/precautionary reasons and she's good to go for Saturday.

Yes, I just googled the video. Azzi does have a boot on her left foot. But she appeared to be walking normally and she was smiling. So let’s hope that you are correct that it’s merely “precautionary.”

 

[MilfordHusky]

In her discussions with Geno, Azzi was asked what she wanted to accomplish at UConn. I’m sure the answers included National Championship, All-American/Wall of Honor, and Player of the Year.

I’ve had the pleasure of watching my local girl for 8 years, so I know what she is capable of. She just needs to bring it consistently.

 

[PacoSwede]

In her discussions with Geno, Azzi was asked what she wanted to accomplish at UConn. I’m sure the answers included National Championship, All-American/Wall of Honor, and Player of the Year.

I’ve had the pleasure of watching my local girl for 8 years, so I know what she is capable of. She just needs to bring it consistently.

OP was well written, but a bit too rosy for me to swallow. i hope it happens, but my reservations are exactly those noted here. See boldface.

If azzi shows in the coming weeks she has finally overcome her past pain, hallelujah. But because of the very high expectations fans have assigned her, she in the end could be seen as this year's goat -- 'goat' as it was originally understood -- rather than its savior.

that would be sad. we should not expect she becomes another stewie or maya or dt when she could come up short and 'only' becomes a caroline doty or a mel thomas or a brittany hunter. she still is a husky, and that's awfully good.

 

[oldude]

OP was well written, but a bit too rosy for me to swallow. i hope it happens, but my reservations are exactly those noted here. See boldface.

If azzi shows in the coming weeks she has finally overcome her past pain, hallelujah. But because of the very high expectations fans have assigned her, she in the end could be seen as this year's goat -- 'goat' as it was originally understood -- rather than its savior.

that would be sad. we should not expect she becomes another stewie or dt or paige when she could come up short and 'only' becomes a caroline doty or a mel thomas or a brittany hunter. she still is a husky, and that's awfully good.

As always, I’m a “glass half full” guy. But in Azzi’s case, I would say that glass is about 3/4 full.

 

[Rowdy831]

I think Azzi is doing just fine. When Paige was out and Azzi was the center of the universe at UConn she played very good basketball. Then she was injured and really lost a lot of court time which slowed her growth with Paige as a courtmate and that really is what I have seen in both of them this season. They are learning how to play with each other and that process has gotten smoother and smoother as time has gone by this season.

My expectation in the last four games is Azzi will play great defense and contribute on offense when called upon. She will do the things she can do and won't put pressure on herself to be more than she is to the team and as a result will not feel additional pressure to be the savior as someone put it.

This team seems to have three players that are big enough to handle the stress related to tournament basketball and that is way more than any other team out there has. Not only that but those three players are as good as any player in the country at team basketball and when needed are tremendous one on one players too. I love UConn's chances this year and expect them to hang 12.

 

[jabstep]

I agree with Old Dude that Azzi has certainly arrived and is the reason that we are playing so well. She and Paige are trading off being the game's star with Sara. They all take what the defense gives them. It is all about matchups a good defense can shut down some of them sometimes but not all of them. When They both are out K Chen then looks to score more and she can. When we go small and defenses leave Ash open she can hurt them as well.
Azzi has been the missing cog in the wheel. Great defender Great shooter, and great on the break. If healthy she has a chance next year to be the NPOY in my opinion.

 

[FridaFriend]

I don't believe Paige was the first HOH inducted on Senior Day. I was at Senior Day for Stewie and Moriah, and they were inducted then. As long as a player reached all-American before Senior Day, they were inducted on Senior Day.

I think that Renee Montgomery was the first Huskie to be inducted on Senior Day (2009)