As UConn advances to its 24th Final Four appearance, Shannon Sharpe couldn’t help but draw parallels between Paige Bueckers’ scorching tournament performance and the legendary runs of Caitlin Clark.
During a recent episode of “Night Cap” Sharpe marveled at Bueckers’ back to back scoring outbursts, saying, “She’s All, you remember when Caitlyn Clark went on that run the last couple of years? Caitlin Clark would blow it up, everybody. Paige Beckers is having that type of game.”
Shannon Sharpe Sees Caitlin Clark’s Brilliance in ‘Paige Buckets’ Performance
The comparison comes after Bueckers dropped 31 points with 6 assists against USC in the Elite Eight following her career-high 40-point explosion against Oklahoma in the Sweet Sixteen.
This remarkable consistency has propelled UConn to the Final Four, where they’ll face UCLA on Friday in a highly anticipated matchup. With 105 points across three tournament games, Bueckers has established herself as the tournament’s most dominant player.
“The way Paige is playing boy, they got their work cut out for them,” Sharpe emphasized during his analysis of UConn’s victory over USC. The NFL Hall of Famer and media personality highlighted how Bueckers’ consecutive offensive explosions reminded him of Clark’s tournament takeovers in previous years.
After witnessing Bueckers score 40 points against Oklahoma and follow it up with 31 points versus USC he couldn’t contain his admiration.
“That’s going to be a difficult, difficult handle” he noted when discussing UCLA’s upcoming challenge in the Final Four matchup against UConn’s star.
Sharpe’s comparison is important considering Clark’s historic presence in women’s college basketball. Sharpe’s drawing a parallel between Bueckers’ current streak and Clark’s legendary performances puts the UConn guard in a very high position as UConn seeks its first national title since 2016.
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While Sharpe sees similarities in their dominance, Bueckers and Clark bring distinctly different approaches to their game breaking abilities. Clark’s tournament runs in 2023 (31.8 PPG) and 2024 (28.0 PPG) featured higher volume shooting and assist numbers as she carried a heavier offensive burden for Iowa.
Bueckers, meanwhile, showcases superior efficiency and defensive impact. Her 59.3% shooting against Oklahoma and 50% against USC contrast with Clark’s high-volume approach.
Additionally, Bueckers’ defensive contributions, averaging 3 steals and 2 blocks in recent tournament games, highlight her two-way impact.
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Both players have demonstrated remarkable mental toughness. For Clark, it was handling the pressure of being women’s basketball’s most visible star. For Bueckers, it’s been overcoming a devastating ACL tear that sidelined her for an entire season that is 720 days between NCAA Tournament appearances before returning stronger than ever.
As Bueckers continues her quest for a first national championship in what could be her final collegiate season, her tournament dominance has already cemented her legacy alongside Clark in women’s basketball history.
The “Paige Buckets” phenomenon, as Sharpe aptly recognized, carries echoes of Clark’s greatness while establishing its own unique brand of excellence. It is like the passing of the torch from one generational talent to another as women’s basketball continues its unprecedented growth in popularity and recognition.
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