Many of UConn’s very best players travel somewhat under the radar as freshmen for a very simple reason. At UConn, no one has PT handed to them. They earn it, and they only earn it if they meet Geno’s exceptionally high expectations.
Don’t get me wrong. Paige will certainly play, but she will have ups and downs, because Geno is going to expect a lot from her, just like he did when Stewie showed up at Storrs as a freshman.
Remember Stewie’s freshman year. She started and played reasonably well for several games. That earned Stewie a spot on the bench, because Geno knew she could play much better.
As a freshman, Stewie was not an AA, nor was she named NFOY. But she got a whole lot better, earning the MOP of the Big Dance and most importantly a National Championship with her teammates.
If Paige’s freshman year ends up in the same place as Stewie’s, I am quite certain that she, her coach and UConn fans everywhere would be most assuredly satisfied with the outcome.