UConn's Paige Bueckers is expected to be OK for the start of the season | Page 2 | The Boneyard

UConn's Paige Bueckers is expected to be OK for the start of the season

Waquoit said:
Paige has a ton of pressure on her this year. She's coming back to a team with championship aspirations despite losing in the Sweet 16 and losing their two best players from last year. Rightly or wrongly, UConn's success is all on her.
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You’re so right. But I think she can handle it. The girl is built for pressure situations.
 
Notyetready said:
Should Minnesota score the number two pick for the '24 draft, Paige will be more imclined to declare for the draft. Minnesota certainly wants her. I'm guessing she has a wait and see attitude because it would be hard for her to pass up the chance to play for her home state fans if Minnesota could draft her.
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You are assuming she would be available at #2? I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Let’s assume Paige has a year as good or better than her freshman year. Do you think anyone is going to pass on her at #1? I don’t! Now, it is certainly possible that Clark may have an outstanding year too but even then, while obviously possible, it’s certainly not a given that she would be picked over Paige. I doubt she would base her decision (if it was based on going to Minnesota) on anything but a sure thing!
 
oldhusky said:
One thing I hate about the extra year of eligibility is the havoc it potentially plays on recruiting. One thing we need to remember is everyone can't really come back that could, or we would be over the limit and need to "encourage" a player or two to transfer. We have 14 and two 2024 recruits already committed, so that is 16 if everyone that could return did.

Now I expect Geno has a much better idea, or at least more knowledge about what factors are most important in individual players decisions, but it is a nightmare for planning purposes. I think the odds are very good that one of those will leave, but that isn't enough if we want to recruit any additional 2024 recruits, including Strong, Carlton, Koval or anyone else. Every additional 2024 recruit means one more needs to leave.

It is also very hard on already committed recruits if a star at their position decides to return and potentially pushes back your opportunity for major playing time for a year. Overall this well intended change as a result of Covid has complicated the decisions and uncertainty regarding recruiting, transfers, and the WNBA draft.

Obviously with major coaching changes you sometimes have the awkward situation where a new coach wants to clean house, encourage the players they didn't recruit to leave, knowing that with immediate eligibility for transfers they can remake a roster overnight.

The good news is after this year some stability will return as the extra year option expires, but for now I hope the players who would like to return can, that this does not limit our ability to recruit a 2024 player we really want, and that the numbers crunch doesn't force Geno to have to in essence show a current player the door, or encourage them to transfer. With the current rules all of those at the same time might not be possible because of the extra eligibility rule.
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I believe Covid year players do not count against the scholarship limits!
 
Carnac said:
UConn head women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma said star guard Paige Bueckers is "90%" recovered from tearing her left ACL last summer and he expects her to be fully ready by the start of the regular season. "If she's not ready to go by then, then I'm not ready to go," Auriemma said Tuesday. "Let's put it that way." Auriemma praised Bueckers for the work she has put in as she continues to recover from the injury that sidelined her for the entirety of the 2022-2023 season and said he has been impressed by what he has seen from her in recent months.

www.espn.com

UConn's Paige Bueckers expected to be OK for start of season

UConn coach Geno Auriemma expressed confidence that Paige Bueckers will be ready for the start of the regular season after she missed all of last year because of a torn ACL.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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These knee injuries are just so devastating for these young people. It's been almost a year, yet she's still just "90%" recovered. Just cringe, and feel so bad for her parents. It had to hurt them as much as it hurt Paige. Wishing her no more injuries. Whatever happens with the win/loss columns.
 
Fairfield Fan said:
These knee injuries are just so devastating for these young people. It's been almost a year, yet she's still just "90%" recovered. Just cringe, and feel so bad for her parents. It had to hurt them as much as it hurt Paige. Wishing her no more injuries. Whatever happens with the win/loss columns.
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The glass is 90% full! Let’s stop focusing on the 10% empty part. Paige has been practicing with her teammates and, per Geno, looks better than she ever has. She’s stronger, fitter and will most certainly be ready to face the rigors of the season once games begin in earnest some 5 months from now.

As I have said before, when I hear how devastating a torn ACL can be to a young athlete, two words come to mind….Sue Bird!!!
 
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Cuango said:
I’ll be shocked if Paige leaves next year. I believe she will stay at least one more year. She doesn’t need the money, she can either make another attempt at a championship or go for the repeat, she can give another year to strengthening both her repaired knee and her body before embarking on her Pro career, and she can play another year with Azzi!
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If y'all win the championship this year, I predict she will go to the W. If not, I think she stays to seek her collegiate goal of winning a championship.

She (and Azzi) have both gained the knowledge that her next game could be her last, She's not the invulnerable youth she was as a freshman. She has a goal to play the the league and I would think she will move on. Her NIL money is not gonna' disappear. She will carry her endorsements with her.
 
Notyetready said:
Should Minnesota score the number two pick for the '24 draft, Paige will be more imclined to declare for the draft. Minnesota certainly wants her. I'm guessing she has a wait and see attitude because it would be hard for her to pass up the chance to play for her home state fans if Minnesota could draft her.
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Minnesota needs Paige. Would love to see her play with Pheesa. But Minnesota is looking better after a horrendous start to the season. Doubt they will get the 2 pick.
 
Cuango said:
You are assuming she would be available at #2? I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Let’s assume Paige has a year as good or better than her freshman year. Do you think anyone is going to pass on her at #1? I don’t! Now, it is certainly possible that Clark may have an outstanding year too but even then, while obviously possible, it’s certainly not a given that she would be picked over Paige. I doubt she would base her decision (if it was based on going to Minnesota) on anything but a sure thing!
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Seattle seems destined for the 1 pick.
 
visitingcock said:
If y'all win the championship this year, I predict she will go to the W. If not, I think she stays to seek her collegiate goal of winning a championship.

She (and Azzi) have both gained the knowledge that her next game could be her last, She's not the invulnerable youth she was as a freshman. She has a goal to play the the league and I would think she will move on. Her NIL money is not gonna' disappear. She will carry her endorsements with her.
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Paige marches to the beat of a different drummer. While I certainly hope that UConn wins it all this coming season, I am not so sure she would opt to turn pro afterwards. She loves her teammates and would stand to make millions more from NIL by leading the Huskies to #12.

In addition, Paige is very serious about using her platform to advance causes she cares about. While that won’t stop in the W, if UConn wins #12, Paige will once again be the face of WCBB, as she was after her freshman year. Having come back from injury, her platform will be greater than ever.
 
I haven't looked back on previous years, but the 2024 WNBA draft presents an interesting discussion. The top 5 ranked HS recruits in 2020 were Paige, Caitlin Clark, Cam Brink, Angel Reese and Kamila Cardosa. Although it is purely speculative, I could see these players as the first 5 picks for 2024 if they all opted to be eligible and remain healthy. Obviously, the order would depend on the franchise and specific needs. In any case, it would be an infusion of singular talents and personalities and should generate tremendous excitement and buzz

I wonder if we compared previous HS recruitment rankings and WNBA drafts, would they be so aligned. Recruiting is an inexact science and so many variables come into play that impact whether a highly ranked recruit lives up to their hype. In the case above, I would say that the play and production of the aforementioned five has been a home run for all the prognosticators - not that it was too difficult to make that call.
 
darkstar1 said:
Seattle seems destined for the 1 pick.
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Even with the worst record, which looks like Phoenix will have, there's is no guarantee of the #1 pick. I believe and someone can correct me if I am wrong, both Phoenix and Seattle made the playoffs last year. Minnesota not so much. The lottery goes by the last 2 seasons records.
 
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Carnac said:
Hey...I'm like Will Rogers. All I KNOW is what I read here in the Boneyard. :cool: I'm going to sit back and enjoy the coming season and see what happens after the tournament is over. Whatever they decide, Geno will make it work. In Geno I trust. :)
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Time always tells doesn't it. But it's so much more fun to speculate. Wonder whether Paige or Caitlyn Clark may be the number 1 projected pick. NIL being what it is Paige she might prefer one more year of charter and an adoring fan base. I sure hope so. There are a few athletic guard/forwards who could come to the top in the draft too. Of course, in the WNBA where you are drafted in the first round is meaningful for 1 night only.

The most important thing is that Paige plays a whole season.
 
Geew1992 said:
Even with the worst record, which looks like Phoenix will have, there's is no guarantee of the #1 pick. I believe and someone can correct me if I am wrong, both Phoenix and Seattle made the playoffs last year. Minnesota not so much. The lottery goes by the last 2 seasons records.
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You are correct, they take the last two seasons record and the one with the worst record gets the #1 pick. There has been a discussion of doing the lottery pick like the NBA does, but I believe that the owners want to keep it as it is.
 
MSGRET said:
You are correct, they take the last two seasons record and the one with the worst record gets the #1 pick. There has been a discussion of doing the lottery pick like the NBA does, but I believe that the owners want to keep it as it is.
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I thought the worst 3 teams have a lottery.
 
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Geew1992 said:
www.rookieroad.com

Basketball

www.rookieroad.com www.rookieroad.com

It's the top 4 worse teams that have a lottery
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So there is hope for Minnesota, but not much as Phee is looking like an MVP candidate. Dorka also contributing mightily. Reeves picked up gems WAY lower than they should have been drafted.
 
Cuango said:
I believe Covid year players do not count against the scholarship limits!
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They do count against the scholarship limits.

The Covid year - that is, the year that does not count against eligibility - was 2020-2021.

Those seniors in 2020-2021 who played that season and then came back and played for their same team in 2021-2022 did not count against the team`s scholarship limit for that season, 2021-2022, but that was a one time thing.

Potentially headache city although having Paige, Aaliyah and/or Nika back for another run is about as nice a "problem" as a coach could have.
 
Huskee11 said:
They do count against the scholarship limits.

The Covid year - that is, the year that does not count against eligibility - was 2020-2021.

Those seniors in 2020-2021 who played that season and then came back and played for their same team in 2021-2022 did not count against the team`s scholarship limit for that season, 2021-2022, but that was a one time thing.

Potentially headache city although having Paige, Aaliyah and/or Nika back for another run is about as nice a "problem" as a coach could have.
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What about Aubrey?
 
Carnac said:
UConn head women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma said star guard Paige Bueckers is "90%" recovered from tearing her left ACL last summer and he expects her to be fully ready by the start of the regular season. "If she's not ready to go by then, then I'm not ready to go," Auriemma said Tuesday. "Let's put it that way." Auriemma praised Bueckers for the work she has put in as she continues to recover from the injury that sidelined her for the entirety of the 2022-2023 season and said he has been impressed by what he has seen from her in recent months.

www.espn.com

UConn's Paige Bueckers expected to be OK for start of season

UConn coach Geno Auriemma expressed confidence that Paige Bueckers will be ready for the start of the regular season after she missed all of last year because of a torn ACL.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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"I think it's going to be when she feels mentally ready, not physically ready, mentally," he said. "Physically, [she's] 90%, she said 90%. If we were in the Final Four this coming week, you think she'd play? Hell yeah, but this isn't April."

BINGO. This is the key. ACL injuries are notorious for the psychological component because of all the cutting and start/stop accelerating athletes need to do, especially in basketball. She might be physically healed 100% but it's going to take her at LEAST half a season to get to the point where she trusts her knee and her movements on the court. There's just no way around that. If everything goes well I'd expect we start to see some semblance of her 'old' self maybe halfway through the conference schedule.

These injuries are 18-24 month propositions, all told. It's actually somewhat similar to UCL replacement surgery ('Tommy John') for pitchers. Usually don't get their stuff back for a year after the graft heals because of the lack of certainty about cutting their arm speed loose.
 
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Rich said:
"I think it's going to be when she feels mentally ready, not physically ready, mentally," he said. "Physically, [she's] 90%, she said 90%. If we were in the Final Four this coming week, you think she'd play? Hell yeah, but this isn't April."

BINGO. This is the key. ACL injuries are notorious for the psychological component because of all the cutting and start/stop accelerating athletes need to do, especially in basketball. She might be physically healed 100% but it's going to take her at LEAST half a season to get to the point where she trusts her knee and her movements on the court. There's just no way around that. If everything goes well I'd expect we start to see some semblance of her 'old' self maybe halfway through the conference schedule.

These injuries are 18-24 month propositions, all told. It's actually somewhat similar to UCL replacement surgery ('Tommy John') for pitchers. Usually don't get their stuff back for a year after the graft heals because of the lack of certainty about cutting their arm speed loose.
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Kia Nurses comments about her own ACL recovery really shine a light on this.

 
oldude said:
The glass is 90% full! Let’s stop focusing on the 10% empty part. Paige has been practicing with her teammates and, per Geno, looks better than she ever has. She’s stronger, fitter and will most certainly be ready to face the rigors of the season once games begin in earnest some 5 months from now.

As I have said before, when I hear how devastating a torn ACL can be to a young athlete, two words come to mind….Sue Bird!!!
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Yes, I was so happy to read that she retired before she reinjured it. I've been a nervous wreck the last 14 or so years. :rolleyes:
 
oldude said:
The glass is 90% full! Let’s stop focusing on the 10% empty part. Paige has been practicing with her teammates and, per Geno, looks better than she ever has. She’s stronger, fitter and will most certainly be ready to face the rigors of the season once games begin in earnest some 5 months from now.

As I have said before, when I hear how devastating a torn ACL can be to a young athlete, two words come to mind….Sue Bird!!!
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From Kia Nurse last night. She torn her ACL in the fall 2021 and still isn’t back in the Summer of 2023. ACL recovery is different for everyone, I think it’s unfair to expect Paige to be close to her old self at the start of the season.


 
hoopsnloops32 said:
From Kia Nurse last night. She torn her ACL in the fall 2021 and still isn’t back in the Summer of 2023. ACL recovery is different for everyone, I think it’s unfair to expect Paige to be close to her old self at the start of the season.


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Well you’re probably correct since Geno says she’s better than ever….
 
oldude said:
Well you’re probably correct since Geno says she’s better than ever….
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Paige is way ahead of where Kia was at 11 months post-surgery. Way ahead.

Athletes' bodies are different and not all ACL tears are the same. I trust what Geno and Paige tell us rather than some uninformed poster who tends toward the negative.
 
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