Geno Auriemma, the legendary head coach of the UConn Women’s basketball team, expressed his satisfaction with the Huskies’ 87-58 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. on Sunday.
The Huskies’ victory broke a five-game losing streak against a Gamecocks squad they used to dominate in previous years. What even made it sweeter was that they did it at South Carolina’s home arena, breaking a multi-year home winning streak.
Azzi Fudd Goes Off As POTY Candidate Paige Bueckers Hits Impressive Double-Double
Player of the Year candidate Paige Bueckers had a scoring slump, but the guard became the chief playmaker, recording a double-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds against the Gamecocks.
However, Azzi Fudd stole the show. The guard dominated the offense with 28 points. She scored 18 of the Huskies’ 21 points in the third quarter, hitting four from outside the arc.
It was a rare off day for Dawn Staley and her girls. They struggled to convert their shots and were ultimately outscored by a rampaging Huskies team determined to end a five-game losing streak against South Carolina.
Auriemma Lauds UConn’s “Close To Perfect” Performance
The blowout victory for Auriemma’s team comes at a good time, as it gives them momentum and confidence with March Madness quickly approaching. After struggling against the Gamecocks in their last five meetings, he believes his team finally won because they were close to perfect.
“Perfect is a bad word, you know. We’ve endured perfect seasons where you’re chasing something that’s so difficult to achieve,” Auriemma said on SNY.
“To me, the idea of playing perfect basketball is more about decision making, making sure that we’re connected and playing five-on-five, that players are in tune with each other, that you’re getting contributions from a lot of people at key times,” he continued.
“I’ve come down to this building and won by a lot, come down here and get smacked a little bit a couple of times,” the UConn coach said. “I know how hard it is to play on the road against a great program like this. And you’re going to have to be, not perfect, but you’re going to have to be pretty darn good to be successful down here.”
He also had praise for Fudd, who led the scoring, and Bueckers, who racked up a double-double.
“The first quarter, I don’t think she (Fudd) made a shot. She missed a lot of pull-ups. She finally got a reverse layup – that was her first basket,” Auriemma said. “There were times, maybe, in the past when Azzi (Fudd) would be affected by that.
“She’s kind of a perfectionist type, and she might have been affected by not seeing the ball go in a couple of times. Or, if she shot it poorly, like she said in pregame warmups, that might carry over,” he explained. “So, right now, I think she’s in a good frame of mind – maybe more mature and takes everything more in stride instead of letting the past catch up to her.”
Auriemma did not forget to mention Beuckers, who turned into a facilitator despite scoring 12－which is below her expected numbers.
“This reminded me a little bit of the Louisville game. She (Bueckers) didn’t shoot the ball a lot, and she didn’t shoot it great, but she kind of controlled the whole game – and everyone else kind of stepped up,” Auriemma added.
“The pressure on players like Page is immense. To have to prove that she’s Paige Bueckers every night. It’s not possible to be what the expectation level out there demands that you be or expects you to be. But games like today, I think, show how valuable she is.
“Even when the ball is not going in, I thought she passed up a couple (shots) that really kind of bothered me because I do believe that, when the moment comes, and we need a bucket, it doesn’t matter what her shooting percentage is – she’s going to make it.
“And at times, kids think that if I shoot the ball well, I play great. And that’s a perfect example of playing great and not shooting the ball well,” he concluded.
MORE ON THE HUSKIES: Does Paige Bueckers Actually Give UConn a ‘Winning Edge’? Geno Auriemma Weighs In
The UConn Huskies’ next game is against the Butler Bulldogs on Feb. 22 at the Hinkle Fieldhouse. The program moved up two spots to No. 5 in Monday’s latest AP poll.
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