South Carolina women’s basketball coach, Dawn Staley recently showered high praise on an opposing player Paige Bueckers.
Dawn Staley with high praise for Paige Bueckers 👏
(via @MarchMadnessWBB) pic.twitter.com/u7WNNFD6g8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 28, 2024
In a video shared by the official March Madness account, Staley spoke in awe of UConn guard Paige Bueckers.
A veteran of the game, Staley couldn’t help but laud the skills of her opponent. Staley was particularly impressed by Bueckers’ ability to make the right plays when on the hardwood.
“Paige is great. I think she’s probably the elitist basketball player to ever grace our game,” Staley said. “You look at her efficiency. She doesn’t take bad shots.”
"She doesn't take bad shots."
Some of the best talking about one of the best in Rooted Episode 3.#NCAAWBB x @UConnWBB
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🔗 https://t.co/LTI38oyQWm pic.twitter.com/G6GBFveR1J— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 27, 2024
Bueckers took the world by storm this past Monday when she scored an impressive 32 points against Syracuse.
Averaging a commendable 21.8 points per game this season with a shooting score of 54% from the field.
After UConn secured their spot in the Sweet 16, the icing on the cake was head coach Geno Auriemma referring to Bueckers as the “best player in America.”
“You know, we have the best player in America,” Auriemma said, via NJ.com. “Just saying that because the numbers in this world of analytics, the numbers say that she is. This team will go as far as she’s able to carry that kind of a load.”
This high rank did not come without hard work. During the 2023-24 regular season, Bueckers topped the charts with an average of 21.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over 35 games.
Bueckers did not stop there; she raised her game during the NCAA Tournament, eclipsing her regular season’s numbers.
This feat reconfirmed her capacity to step up when the stakes are high. In the forthcoming face-off against Duke in the Sweet 16, all eyes will rightfully be on Bueckers.
There is no doubt; she will give her all to guide the Huskies to another victory in the NCAA Tournament.
