Missing Paige Buckets

[AmeriConn]

 

[Bone Dog]

Yes

 

[hoopsfan22]

No Paige no Final Fours the last couple of years. Those were some performances against Baylor and N.C. State.

 

[Woof 101]

With all due respect, the team is missing way more than just Paige. This while playing at a top contender level. Did someone miss the number of starters sitting on the bench vs Maryland a top 20 team? That and witness the fact how well the bench played their hearts out?
Paige on the bench, Dorka on the bench, Azzi on the bench, Nika on the bench, Ice on the bench.

Of course the team would and will prophet with Paige back on board but it's not like anybody does not realize the fact. That and she has never and will never win a basketball game by herself. Can't wait to get the whole team back personally but will root on what we have for now. Go Huskies!!!

 

[gold2323]

Paige is irreplaceable…..one of a kind!!!
If she would decide to play 2 more years
in my mind it would make up for not having her this year.

 

[AmeriConn]

With all due respect, the team is missing way more than just Paige. This while playing at a top contender level. Did someone miss the number of starters sitting on the bench vs Maryland a top 20 team? That and witness the fact how well the bench played their hearts out?
Paige on the bench, Dorka on the bench, Azzi on the bench, Nika on the bench, Ice on the bench.

Of course the team would and will prophet with Paige back on board but it's not like anybody does not realize the fact. That and she has never and will never win a basketball game by herself. Can't wait to get the whole team back personally but will root on what we have for now. Go Huskies!!!

Just making a statement of how I’m missing Paige out there playing. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[AmeriConn]

View attachment 81924

I don’t understand what there is to Dislike about the post Mdoggie.

 

[oldhusky]

Paige is irreplaceable…..one of a kind!!!
If she would decide to play 2 more years
in my mind it would make up for not having her this year.

I hope for this as well. I think the NIL deals makes it financially possible, and her relationship with Azzi makes me think she might want to do it.

After back to back years of getting the top ranked recruit, we had expectations of three years of a spectacular backcourt combo of Paige and Azzi, on a level perhaps with Sue and Diana.

Now if Paige doesn't return for two years, we will only get one solid year from that duo. Last year doesn't count for me. Those two players missed a ton of games and even when they were on the court, one or the other was not 100%. Paige played the first 6 games healthy, but Azzi was still hampered by her foot. Late in the year Azzi was better (not 100%) but Paige was clearly not 100% after coming back from surgery.

We have not yet been able to experience how great that combo could be. Paige proved herself her freshmen year, Azzi was showing her star potential this year before her injury. It would be a shame if one of the most anticipated backcourt combos of all time, who expected to have three great years together only had one where they were both healthy.

This year has provided another potential look for next year's starting lineup. Coming into this season I presumed the 23/24 backcourt starters would be Paige, Azzi and Caroline and was very optimistic about how good that combo could be. Now with Nika blossoming and Caroline slow to return to form, I might be more excited by Nika playing with Azzi and Paige. The current nation's leader in assists pushing the ball up the middle of a break with Azzi and Paige on the wings just doesn't seem fair.

Regardless either way 1-3 could be terrific, if of course we can finally have good luck for a change on the injury front. It would be nice to see Paige and Azzi for two more years, and there could be one other reason to do that. So far NIL deals have mostly been for individual players. To the extent a pair of players becomes well known as a dynamic duo, I could see an advantage in marketing them together on joint deals, potentially increasing the logic of Paige staying the extra year with Azzi.

 

[Brewski]

Nice post @AmeriConn! I've been missing Buckets a lot lately, and I too hope she plays 2 more years without ANY injuries......

 

[mrmojack]

Paige is irreplaceable…..one of a kind!!!
If she would decide to play 2 more years
in my mind it would make up for not having her this year.

Maybe she will decide to stay around another year with her best friend. That would be nice. By that time
she will have a few more NIL deals on the books.

 

[Cuango]

I hope for this as well. I think the NIL deals makes it financially possible, and her relationship with Azzi makes me think she might want to do it.

After back to back years of getting the top ranked recruit, we had expectations of three years of a spectacular backcourt combo of Paige and Azzi, on a level perhaps with Sue and Diana.

Now if Paige doesn't return for two years, we will only get one solid year from that duo. Last year doesn't count for me. Those two players missed a ton of games and even when they were on the court, one or the other was not 100%. Paige played the first 6 games healthy, but Azzi was still hampered by her foot. Late in the year Azzi was better (not 100%) but Paige was clearly not 100% after coming back from surgery.

We have not yet been able to experience how great that combo could be. Paige proved herself her freshmen year, Azzi was showing her star potential this year before her injury. It would be a shame if one of the most anticipated backcourt combos of all time, who expected to have three great years together only had one where they were both healthy.

This year has provided another potential look for next year's starting lineup. Coming into this season I presumed the 23/24 backcourt starters would be Paige, Azzi and Caroline and was very optimistic about how good that combo could be. Now with Nika blossoming and Caroline slow to return to form, I might be more excited by Nika playing with Azzi and Paige. The current nation's leader in assists pushing the ball up the middle of a break with Azzi and Paige on the wings just doesn't seem fair.

Regardless either way 1-3 could be terrific, if of course we can finally have good luck for a change on the injury front. It would be nice to see Paige and Azzi for two more years, and there could be one other reason to do that. So far NIL deals have mostly been for individual players. To the extent a pair of players becomes well known as a dynamic duo, I could see an advantage in marketing them together on joint deals, potentially increasing the logic of Paige staying the extra year with Azzi.

Difficult to imagine a better fully healthy lineup than Aaliyah, Aubrey, Caroline, Azzi, & Paige! However, a fully healthy UConn in 2023/2024 is so loaded with talent that one cannot rule it out! Carly Simon’s classic, “Anticipation“ may well be the theme song for UConn fans this coming off-season. (I’m hoping that UConn theme song will be a direct transition from “Another one Bites the Dust” on the last day of this season) Surely we can find a DJ that can synchronize that transition as they used to do in the much loved/much hated Disco era? I remember admiring how they would seamlessly blend the end of one song into the beginning of another…but, I digress. Here’s hoping for a fully healthy team as soon as possible!

 

[Surly1]

I hope for this as well. I think the NIL deals makes it financially possible, and her relationship with Azzi makes me think she might want to do it.

After back to back years of getting the top ranked recruit, we had expectations of three years of a spectacular backcourt combo of Paige and Azzi, on a level perhaps with Sue and Diana.

Now if Paige doesn't return for two years, we will only get one solid year from that duo. Last year doesn't count for me. Those two players missed a ton of games and even when they were on the court, one or the other was not 100%. Paige played the first 6 games healthy, but Azzi was still hampered by her foot. Late in the year Azzi was better (not 100%) but Paige was clearly not 100% after coming back from surgery.

We have not yet been able to experience how great that combo could be. Paige proved herself her freshmen year, Azzi was showing her star potential this year before her injury. It would be a shame if one of the most anticipated backcourt combos of all time, who expected to have three great years together only had one where they were both healthy.

This year has provided another potential look for next year's starting lineup. Coming into this season I presumed the 23/24 backcourt starters would be Paige, Azzi and Caroline and was very optimistic about how good that combo could be. Now with Nika blossoming and Caroline slow to return to form, I might be more excited by Nika playing with Azzi and Paige. The current nation's leader in assists pushing the ball up the middle of a break with Azzi and Paige on the wings just doesn't seem fair.

Regardless either way 1-3 could be terrific, if of course we can finally have good luck for a change on the injury front. It would be nice to see Paige and Azzi for two more years, and there could be one other reason to do that. So far NIL deals have mostly been for individual players. To the extent a pair of players becomes well known as a dynamic duo, I could see an advantage in marketing them together on joint deals, potentially increasing the logic of Paige staying the extra year with Azzi.

Absolutely agree with your post. Paige is a star, must-see TV. Her game is silky smooth, she's beyond talented, and she is more athletically gifted than given credit for. The photo is my favorite from the best women's tournament game ever. She certainly has height on her jumper. Another reason why it's hard to block her shot is she releases the ball at its apex.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Paige is irreplaceable…..one of a kind!!!
If she would decide to play 2 more years
in my mind it would make up for not having her this year.

I would get roaring drunk for a day if she did this. One problem: I don't drink. Would one of you get drunk for me?

 

[Mdoggie]

I don’t understand what there is to Dislike about the post Mdoggie.

At this point (this season) bringing up Paige is akin to bringing up EDD.

 

[MilfordHusky]

In case anyone didn't see or doesn't remember, here's some of what Paige Buckets did as a freshman:

 

[AmeriConn]

 

[HuskyNan]

At this point (this season) bringing up Paige is akin to bringing up EDD.

If you don’t want to hear about Paige, why are you reading a clearly marked thread about her?

 

[Mdoggie]

If you don’t want to hear about Paige, why are you reading a clearly marked thread about her?

All I want to hear in UConn wins 12th!

 

[cometjo]

It's not even just that we'd be a better team with her in the line-up, it's also that she's flat out fun to watch play. That and I really wanted to see what it would look like with her and Azzi both firing on all cylinders. On the other hand, with the way Nika's stepped up this year, it's really fun to contemplate watching the three of them together.

 

[hoopsfan22]

In case anyone didn't see or doesn't remember, here's some of what Paige Buckets did as a freshman:

Excellent compilation. I stand by what I've said before: there's no one like her on any other team. You can see why she took home player of the year as a freshman. Easily the best player we've had since Stewie and most confident since Taurasi.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

I would get roaring drunk for a day if she did this. One problem: I don't drink. Would one of you get drunk for me?

Well, if someone has to do it... I would take one for the TEAM

 

[wingsfan055]

Losing Brady was a big blow as well in terms of Title hopes - with her size & talent. If we had a healthy Paige & Ice, I'd say we had as good a shot as SC for the Title. Now, it will take a lot of things to break our way.

 

[AmeriConn]

Well, if someone has to do it... I would take one for the TEAM

Sounds like someone really twisted your arm!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Excellent compilation. I stand by what I've said before: there's no one like her on any other team. You can see why she took home player of the year as a freshman. Easily the best player we've had since Stewie and most confident since Taurasi.

I agree—best player in the nation when healthy.

 

[hoophuskee]

Excellent compilation. I stand by what I've said before: there's no one like her on any other team. You can see why she took home player of the year as a freshman. Easily the best player we've had since Stewie and most confident since Taurasi.

Maya was confident too. Her jump shot - no fear. Ever.