Paige, the One and Only

[oldude]

OptaStats just posted an interesting statistic about Paige which highlights just how extraordinarily remarkable she has been during her time at UConn. Paige is the only player in the 21st century, male or female, to achieve the following for their college career:

2000 pts
500 rebounds
500 assists
50% shooting from the floor
40% shooting from the 3-pt line
80% shooting from the foul line

While OptaStats references the 21st century, I am pretty sure no one achieved those numbers during the 20th century either. So Paige is the one and only college basketball player to ever put up those career numbers.

We need to have another spirited conversation on the BY about the GOAT.

 

[meyers7]

OptaStats just posted an interesting statistic about Paige which highlights just how extraordinarily remarkable she has been during her time at UConn. Paige is the only player in the 21st century, male or female, to achieve the following for their college career:

2000 pts
500 rebounds
500 assists
50% shooting from the floor
40% shooting from the 3-pt line
80% shooting from the foul line

While OptaStats references the 21st century, I am pretty sure no one achieved those numbers during the 20th century either. So Paige is the one and only college basketball player to ever put up those career numbers.

We need to have another spirited conversation on the BY about the GOAT.

Impressive. Hope she can get herself (and UCONN - and us ) a NC.

 

[yhun89]

OptaStats just posted an interesting statistic about Paige which highlights just how extraordinarily remarkable she has been during her time at UConn. Paige is the only player in the 21st century, male or female, to achieve the following for their college career:

2000 pts
500 rebounds
500 assists
50% shooting from the floor
40% shooting from the 3-pt line
80% shooting from the foul line

While OptaStats references the 21st century, I am pretty sure no one achieved those numbers during the 20th century either. So Paige is the one and only college basketball player to ever put up those career numbers.

We need to have another spirited conversation on the BY about the GOAT.

GOAT things. Would've had 3000+ PTS if she was healthy all 4 years.

 

[oldude]

On a related matter, Paige hit her first 2 FT’s yesterday making it 35 in a row, before missing a +1 in the 2nd half, her first missed FT in 12 games and over 6 weeks. Remarkable!!!

 

[Huskee11]

On a related matter, Paige hit her first 2 FT’s yesterday making it 35 in a row, before missing a +1 in the 2nd half, her first missed FT in 12 games and over 6 weeks. Remarkable!!!

She could go 50/40/90 this year but she's going to pretty much have to be perfect from the line from here on out and attempt at least 11. She's 79 for 89. She was really mad at herself for missing that one yesterday. Maybe because of the streak, maybe the 90%, maybe both.

51-125 or .408 from three, so that is very doable.

 

[HuskyNan]

I love Paige and couldn’t be prouder of her if she were my granddaughter but we UConn fans can have a recency bias combined with some National flag blue tinted glasses. There have been so many tremendous players in Division I that are in the same stratosphere as Our Girls and only a few are really given their due. And some of the Husky alumnae are also in that orbit.

I picked one non-Husky guard, Sabrina Ionescu, for comparison but there are others like Caitlin Clark or Kelsey Plum, for example, that could be listed here. Diana played two years with Sue and three of the best post players to wear a UConn uniform so some of her numbers are lower, but still comparable. Maya and Breanna are forwards and didn’t handle the ball as much. All, including Sabrina, are in the same realm as Paige. There are so many other great players - Candace Parker, Seimone Augustus, Chiney Ogwumike….

 

[Centerstream]

This is something that I have wondered about in the discussion about Paige’s "greatness" but am too lazy to research it.
When discussing her career totals as she climbed the various ladders this season, does anyone consider the number of games that she has played in (besides her reaching 2000 points)? I believe that she has played in almost every game in her Freshman season and for the last two seasons. But how many games did see play in her Sophomore season? Have any other of the UConn greats played in fewer games than Paige? How many games were canceled due to the virus?
I know it doesn't mean a darn thing but I still just wonder what could have been if she had played every game in her Sophomore season...

 

[bballnut90]

This is something that I have wondered about in the discussion about Paige’s "greatness" but am too lazy to research it.
When discussing her career totals as she climbed the various ladders this season, does anyone consider the number of games that she has played in (besides her reaching 2000 points)? I believe that she has played in almost every game in her Freshman season and for the last two seasons. But how many games did see play in her Sophomore season? Have any other of the UConn greats played in fewer games than Paige? How many games were canceled due to the virus?
I know it doesn't mean a darn thing but I still just wonder what could have been if she had played every game in her Sophomore season...

Paige missed at least 6-7 games her freshman year due to covid and 19 as a sophomore due to injuries, so 25-26 at a minimum which would add on another 500ish points and 100 rebounds/assists. Had she stayed healthy and not dealt with covid, for her career she'd likely finish close to 3000/700/700.


To answer your question though about UCONN greats playing fewer games--most UCONN greats have been blessed with great health while at UCONN. Stewart, Moore, Taurasi, Charles, KLS, Collier, Jefferson, etc. all played close to every game in all 4 years. I don't think any All American player has had a season ending injury (during the season) at UCONN since Abrosimova/Ralph in 2001.


Looking outside of UCONN, most players with monster stats have been healthy, but a few names worth noting:
-Caitlin Clark also lost about 8 games in her career due to covid (which would've had her eclipse 4000/1000/1000)
-Sabrina lost the last (likely) 6 games of her career due to covid too
-EDD also missed a bunch of games her sophomore year and would've had a good shot to beat Jackie Stiles record before Plum
-BG also would've had a good shot at Stiles' record if not for getting suspended as a freshman and their very unexpected Sweet 16 loss to Louisville
-Candace Parker missed a full college season due to injury
-Maddie Siegrist missed about 15ish games during her career due to covid and injuries. She would've finished with 3200+ points for her career.

 

[Rowdy831]

Paige is a great player but to be the GOAT she would have to be the best Husky of all time and that is a tall order. She does so many things really good which probably hurts her playing for Geno because of his team first mentality (which I love). If she came to UConn and had healthy teammates the whole time and played the point the whole time maybe she would be regarded even higher than she it now. In my book she is one of the all timers to play at UConn but her GOAT status will have to wait a while before I could move her in that air.

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige will have played ~120 games by the end of this season. That's about 30 fewer than any of the UConn greats usually mentioned in comparison. If she returns to play one more season and gets to the 150 games all the others got she would eclipse a lot more records and probably come in roughly tied with Maya for the all-time scoring title. But this is not likely to happen.

 

[EricLA]

We are so blessed to have had so many talented players come thru UConn. I agree regarding the recency bias. I look forward to the debate for the next Mt Rushmore discussion. The unfortunate thing for Paige is the consistent string of injuries that has punctuated her career. Can't put her ahead of Dee, Maya, or Stewie given her career shortened by injuries...

 

[Hoophound]

I don’t post here often, but I do watch some games. It seems to me that Paige just isn’t nearly as aggressive as she could be in taking over games. This comes from a small sample of viewing, but my impression is that she isn’t selfish at all. Caitlyn Clark was great, but she was also “selfish” in that she took matters into her own hands whenever possible. Paige seems to be much less dominant in terms of attitude and approach. She has all the skills to do so, but she hasnt had the mindset to do it.

 

[packwrap]

Paige seems to be much less dominant in terms of attitude and approach. She has all the skills to do so, but she hasnt had the mindset to do it.

A huge part of how a star player plays has to do with how a coach draws up plans for the team, and what quality of players make up the teammates.

Coaches for Plum, Clark, JuJu, DelleDonne were/still are looking for their star to shoot 20-30 times per game! The coach believed that is best way for the team to win games! It is not always a player being selfish, or desiring to be a so called 'volume shooter', rather it is executing the coach's game plan.

At UConn it's always team first towards winning a title and Paige, along with Azzi and Sarah are perfect examples of that strategy.

This plus often not playing in Q4, makes it hard for UConn stars to pile up individual stats. For Huskies to win individuals awards, one has to hope that voters look at items besides points/game, taking a deeper look at stats and game film/highlights to make their selections.

Paige, Azzi & Sarah are most interested in 1 award this year...the elusive national title.

 

[HuskyNan]

A huge part of how a star player plays has to do with how a coach draws up plans for the team, and what quality of players make up the teammates.

Coaches for Plum, Clark, JuJu, DelleDonne were/still are looking for their star to shoot 20-30 times per game! The coach believed that is best way for the team to win games! It is not always a player being selfish, or desiring to be a so called 'volume shooter', rather it is executing the coach's game plan.

At UConn it's always team first towards winning a title and Paige, along with Azzi and Sarah are perfect examples of that strategy.

This plus often not playing in Q4, makes it hard for UConn stars to pile up individual stats. For Huskies to win individuals awards, one has to hope that voters look at items besides points/game, taking a deeper look at stats and game film/highlights to make their selections.

Paige, Azzi & Sarah are most interested in 1 award this year...the elusive national title.

Geno would be ecstatic if Paige took 30 shots. He’s been begging her to do just that since she came to UConn

 

[Bald Husky]

We must have faith in Paige. Hopfully Geno is laying off her to let her run the show the way she wants to. Paige is no dummy, knows more basketball than anyone on this forum, so calm and collected under the worst circumstances, but always has the great attitude. Paige has not been scoring as well the last few weeks, but her assists total coincides with the return of Azzi and Aubrey. This is her job, run the team so we can win the game. Getting the ball to teammates who are on a hot streak is her forte, whether it be Azzi, Sarah, or Ashlynn. She is the playmaker, she sets the tone, she gets the ball where it is supposed to be. Let's not argue about this, Paige is a point guard, not a shooting guard. She is talented enough to view the floor, get the ball so her teammates can score, or score herself if that's what the team needs to win. I'm a little concerned about her 3 point shooting lately, but she still makes it up in other areas. She is the most valuable player on this team, no matter who is scoring or getting the headlines. This is Paiges team, and I just hope Geno lets her run it for the last dozen games of her career.

 

[my2cents]

OptaStats just posted an interesting statistic about Paige which highlights just how extraordinarily remarkable she has been during her time at UConn. Paige is the only player in the 21st century, male or female, to achieve the following for their college career:
And
2000 pts
500 rebounds
500 assists
50% shooting from the floor
40% shooting from the 3-pt line
80% shooting from the foul line

While OptaStats references the 21st century, I am pretty sure no one achieved those numbers during the 20th century either. So Paige is the one and only college basketball player to ever put up those career numbers.

We need to have another spirited conversation on the BY about the GOAT.

Impressive. And that doesn't include her steals, and overall great defense. Top 3 at UConn, IMO.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Coaches for Plum, Clark, JuJu, DelleDonne were/still are looking for their star to shoot 20-30 times per game!

I was curious so I looked. None of those players was ever even remotely close to taking 30 shots per game. I kinda doubt any college player has ever done this. 20 yeah, they were in that range +/- a shot or two.

 

[The deacon]

I was curious so I looked. None of those players was ever even remotely close to taking 30 shots per game. I kinda doubt any college player has ever done this. 20 yeah, they were in that range +/- a shot or two.

Excellent point, nwhoopfan... many on the Boneyard ultimately and grudgingly acknowledged Clark's greatness, but it took quite a while, actually four years of her brilliance to convince them. Known by many as a 'volume' shooter, Caitlin averaged 20.1 shots per game for her Iowa career, a far cry from the 25-30 shots per game that so many thought to be the truth.

And, considering she attempted many threes, her career 46.6 shooting percentage was pretty darned good.

Add in she averaged 7.8 assists per game for 139 games!

Yes, I know, Clark detractors, Iowa's style of play and Caitlin's and Paige's comparative positions on the court have been factors.

And I'll also head those off at the pass who'll say Paige's numbers aren't as high because she's only interested in team play, and team success. So very true, but consider that Caitlin got her team to two straight national title games and won a Big Ten regular season title and three Big Ten tournament titles. That's not a bad haul, especially given the lesser talent around Caitlin. Caitlin was just as much about team. She and her coach just went about it in different fashion, with outstanding results.

Clark was lucky to have enjoyed manageable to good health throughout, something that's eluded Paige. I would have loved to have seen Paige so blessed. She clearly would have been much higher on the all-time scoring list, and probably second only to Maya on the Huskies' list.

Could've, should've... sports history is replete with countless athletes who could've done this or that.

One thing Paige can match Caitlin on is getting to a national title game twice. And, we all hope, she can top Caitlin by bringing home a national championship.

 

[packwrap]

I was curious so I looked. None of those players was ever even remotely close to taking 30 shots per game. I kinda doubt any college player has ever done this. 20 yeah, they were in that range +/- a shot or two.

I may have been exagerrating a tad.

I am, however, a Clark fan, so my point wasn't against high scorers. I just think it's important to point out that high volume shooters are not always 'selfish', they often just execute the team gameplan.

In many ways for me Clark/Bueckers are the same player, just deployed much differently by their coaches, and surrounded with different caliber teammates.

Watching Clark handle physicality in WNBA '24, I am confident that "power forward Paige" can also quickly adjust and thrive in W. Will be interesting to compare CC and Paige over time in a more like v like setting.

JuJu, Amoore and Van Lith also get tons of grief here on the board. None of them shoot with high accuracy, or win any efficiency awards, but somehow they do 'win games' for their coaches, helping to lift teams won/loss records with their play. They all dominate the ball and shoot often, as instructed by their coach.

 

[hookshot]

I think PB will enjoy (and actually feel less pressured) in a likely WNBA role as a distributer / scorer (somewhat in the Sue Bird mold). I think you could see a lot of double / doubles of the 15 points / 10 assists (or rebounds) variety. I think the physicality of the WNBA will be her biggest challenge. In contrast, CC has already shown she can handle the physicality and is already fated and comfortable in the role of a primary scorer, needing the ball in her hands, but still dealing up as many (or likely more) assists than PB. I think they are quite different players with PB holding a decided advantage as a mid-range shooter and CC holding the advantage as a 3 point shooter. CC also holds some advantage in willingness to take it to the rim. Overall, CC will fill up the stat books well beyond PB (on playing time alone, for sure) but PB will have the efficiency advantage. PB is best suited to lead a very talented roster team to a championship (again Sue Bird like), while CC is best suited to keep a less talented team in the mix

 

[packwrap]

Your points above are exactly what I am so excited to see, possibly even this summer.

I've watched Paige put up some logo 3 pointers in warmups. She has tremendous range, but has just chosen not to use it in ncaa (except at qtr end).
CC gets credit for deep 3s cause she actually shoots them in games.

Paige and CC have same slender build. I think Paige will adapt to W almost identically to CC.

On mid range, again they both have it. Clark just played for coaches pushing the 3 PT or layup strategy, so she didn't use midrange shots.

Minutes, touches, role, ball dominance all up in the air. At this point Fever looks to be a contender with the very talented roster. Dallas more like a rebuild with the less talented team.

My guess would be Paige is point, and Arike the off guard. Paige will get the keys and a lot of freedom and minutes to make it happen.

Popcorn is ready!

 

[diggerfoot]

Using a unique set pf numbers to distinguish performance can be done for a great number of players. Adjust one category up, another down and you have another one and only player.

I believe Bueckers is a one and only player in regards to decision making. In the 50/40/90 set of shooting percentages the one that has been most elusive has been the one that does not require decisions, shooting foul shots. Otherwise, she shoots so well not just because she is a good shooter, but also knows when and how to get a good shot.

Yet that is not even where her decision making shines most. She is not only a good passer and dribbler, she knows when and how to best pass or dribble without causing a turnover. She started off with an astounding A/T ratio for a freshman, followed by three injury impacted seasons where that ratio dipped or stayed the same. Now her A/T ratio has elevated to astounding level again for even a senior.

Her foul shooting percentages is perhaps a true indicator of her skill level as a shooter: excellent, but not a one and only. Bird, for example, was better. However, I do not believe even Bird was savvier than Bueckers on the court, nor any other woman player I have witnessed.

If you came up with an empirical measure of her savvy, combining A/T ratios, percentages, fouls committed, Bueckers would come out a one and only.

 

[browns]

Your points above are exactly what I am so excited to see, possibly even this summer.

I've watched Paige put up some logo 3 pointers in warmups. She has tremendous range, but has just chosen not to use it in ncaa (except at qtr end).
CC gets credit for deep 3s cause she actually shoots them in games.

Paige and CC have same slender build. I think Paige will adapt to W almost identically to CC.

On mid range, again they both have it. Clark just played for coaches pushing the 3 PT or layup strategy, so she didn't use midrange shots.

Minutes, touches, role, ball dominance all up in the air. At this point Fever looks to be a contender with the very talented roster. Dallas more like a rebuild with the less talented team.

My guess would be Paige is point, and Arike the off guard. Paige will get the keys and a lot of freedom and minutes to make it happen.

Popcorn is ready!

 

[browns]

Shooting logo 3's in warmups is a whole different story than doing it in a game
If Paige can adapt to the W half as good as CC did she will have a great season after all Clark didn't just adapt she dominated setting numerous records just as she did in college and leading her team to the playoffs after they hadn't been in 8 years

 

[meyers7]

We are so blessed to have had so many talented players come thru UConn. I agree regarding the recency bias. I look forward to the debate for the next Mt Rushmore discussion. The unfortunate thing for Paige is the consistent string of injuries that has punctuated her career. Can't put her ahead of Dee, Maya, or Stewie given her career shortened by injuries...

Agreed, part of being great/the greatest is being available. Unfortunate and not her fault, but it is what it is.