Paige Bueckers struggled in her first game of 2025, with Geno Auriemma admitting he is still attempting to figure out UConn’s optimal rotations as the Huskies continue the year.
In UConn’s 77-45 win over Marquette on New Year’s Day, the star guard couldn’t get it going from the field, scoring 12 points on 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) shooting from the field and 2-of-5 (40 percent) from beyond the arc in her 26 minutes of work. It was Bueckers’ second-worst shooting performance of the year, with the guard posting a 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) outing against Louisville on Dec. 7.
Despite Bueckers struggling to start 2025, Sarah Strong, KK Armstrong, and Jana El Alfy helped alleviate any missing scoring from the star, showing how deep the Huskies are. However, Auriemma shared he is still figuring out the best lineups as UConn’s season continues.
“Well, I mean, we’re starting to understand a little bit better which lineups are most effective for us and that it really matters how we substitute and who we substitute and when we substitute,” Auriemma said. ” So, all these things, just take all the information and keep trying to get it better in the next game.
“And the better we figure that out, the more success we’re going to have.” And while the legendary head coach finetunes his rotations, UConn can expect Bueckers to have more successful outings than she had against Marquette.
Although the 23-year-old had a rough outing to start the 2025 calendar year, Bueckers is a having a outstanding year compared by her previous seasons. Bueckers is shooting a career-high 56.9 percent from the field, showing just how effective she is in getting to her spots.
And while Bueckers struggled for just the second time this season, UConn star Azzi Fudd has yet to put a string of consistent performances together. In her last three games, including UConn’s win over Marquette, the star guard shot 6-of-28 (21.4 percent) from the field and 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from 3-point land.
However, in the previous three games she played, Fudd shot 17-of-27 (63 percent) from the field and 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from beyond the arc, showing she has the capability to have an explosive offensive impact on any given night. With how inconsistent she has been, Auriemma believes its only a matter of time before the senior finds her rhythm, after dealing with injuries throughout her career.
“It’s good to get her back, good to get her out there and when she gets her legs under I think things will get even better,” Auriemma said after UConn’s win over Providence on December 29. “I think athletes like routine, they like to know what’s next and how do I prepare for what’s next and when you’re not sure, it’s difficult.
“Then you end up with more practice time than you actually do game time… hopefully it’s the last time we’ll have to go through anything like that. When she’s in the game, it’s always a threat, she might go four for four in a spurt and put the game away. So, it’ll come it’s just going to take a little bit of time.”
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