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With the information that UConn sophomore guard Paige Bueckers had knee surgery Monday and is expected to have an eight-week repair, her soonest obtainable return now initiatives because the second week of February.
Bueckers had an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear fixed in her left knee, so this should be thought-about a positive forecast. When this schedule shows appropriate, whats going to she miss out on, and whats going to the No. 7 Huskies do in her lack?
Bueckers currently was prepared for to overlook two substantial nonconference computer game vs. No. 6 Louisville on Sunday and at Oregon on Jan. 17. Now she additionally will probably miss out on the remainder of the nonconference slate, at No. 1 South Carolina on Jan. 27 and the Feb. 6 matchup with Tennessee, which comes correct on the surface of Bueckers present approximated remediation.
UConn went 1-1 in its first 2 computer game with out Bueckers, who was hurt Dec. 5 in a triumph over Notre Dame. UConn lost 57-44 to Georgia Tech on Dec. 9, snapping a 239-game successful streak in opposition to unranked opponents and triggering what seemed like a postgame wake from coach Geno Auriemma, who discussed he did not anticipate the Huskies with the capability to fix points they had been having.
2 days later on, problems appeared additional upbeat after the Huskies second-half return in a 71-61 triumph over UCLA. Nevertheless the upcoming matchup with Louisville is anticipated to be additional like Georgia Tech due to the Cardinals sturdy security. The Huskies shot merely 31 p.c from the sphere in opposition to the Yellow Jackets.
Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
CloseMechelle Voepel covers the WNBA, girlss professors basketball, and different faculty sports activities for espnW. Voepel started securing womens basketball in 1984, and has actually been with ESPN considering that 1996.
5hKatie Barnes
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6dMechelle Voepel and Katie Barnes
2 AssociatedThat quantity went as much as 41 p.c in opposition to UCLA, with the Huskies 3 wholesome guards– Christyn Williams, Evina Westbrook and Caroline Ducharme– a mixed 14-of-41 (34.1%) from the sphere.
The strain is on these gamers with not simply Bueckers but additionally guards Nika Mühl and Azzi Fudd out with accidents. Muhl, sidelined because Dec. 8, is expected to neglect a number of weeks with a foot injury, and Fudd, out given that Dec. 1, is expected to have the stress reaction in her foot reviewed soon. Restricting turnovers and hitting outside pictures are 2 strengths we have way back pertained to anticipate that UConn at all times has, nevertheless these concerns now can not be taken with no factor to consider.
Among numerous greatest positives out of the UCLA success was the performance of ahead Dorka Juhász, the switch from Ohio State who had her greatest recreation however in a Huskies uniform. Her 16 aspects (on 5 of 5 catching) and 16 rebounds had actually been a sign of the versatility of the two-time All-Huge Ten very first teamer.
If she will be able to preserve producing, it would make an enormous distinction for UConn, and offers assist to fellow forwards Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards. The Huskies are in addition however awaiting the return of hurt ahead Aubrey Griffin.
Oregon has gone by its personal struggles with accidents to crucial players, nevertheless well see how wholesome the Geese are by mid-January. The Huskies lost 73-57 to South Carolina on Nov. 22 within the Battle 4 Atlantis within the Bahamas– even with Bueckers participating in. The Gamecocks have actually been with out hurt guard Destanni Henderson lately, however their depth is so great, theyve continued to travel on the high area.
Bueckers struck a massive shot late in final years 67-61 victory at Tennessee, nevertheless she would want a little bit of an accelerated restorative interval to have the ability to face the Girl Vols– whore tied on the No. 7 area with UConn on this weeks AP tally– this year. That Feb. 6 match shall be UConns last nonconference entertainment, so no matter floor it does not make up nationally by then when it concerns NCAA occasion seeding will not be comprised.
And no person can merely pencil in Huge East success for UConn, both. The Huskies have actually not misplaced to a convention challenger because they had actually been within the out-of-date Huge East in 2013. May that streak concerned a surface throughout Bueckers absence?
At the moment, DePaul (9-2), Marquette (8-2) and Creighton (6-2) are off to the most reliable starts within the Huge East, together with 6-2 UConn. The Huskies will deal with all of them rapidly: They host Marquette on Dec. 29, journey to DePaul on Dec. 31 and host Creighton on Jan. 9.
She can be once again for the rematches with DePaul (Feb. 11) and Marquette (Feb. 13)if Bueckers does return in 8 weeks. In all, underneath that scenario she would return with seven video games left on the regular-season schedule.
The Huskies will expect the most effective when it pertains to Bueckers restorative and return coming in time for her to however be an aspect this season. However for the following eight weeks, they require to firmly set up who theyre with out her.
2 days later, issues appeared extra upbeat after the Huskies second-half return in a 71-61 victory over UCLA. The Huskies shot simply 31 p.c from the sphere in opposition to the Yellow Jackets.
Limiting turnovers and hitting exterior photographs are 2 strengths we have actually way back come to expect that UConn at all times has, however these issues now can not be taken without any factor to consider.
The Huskies misplaced 73-57 to South Carolina on Nov. 22 within the Battle four Atlantis within the Bahamas– even with Bueckers taking part in. The Huskies have actually not misplaced to a convention challenger because they had been within the out-of-date Huge East in 2013.
