Before launching into the UConn-South Dakota State game, I would like to recognize the untimely and horrific injury to one of today’s best collegiate basketball players. JuJu Watkins suffered a torn ACL during the game with Mississippi State and is done for the season.
Of course, many pundits and fans were looking forward to a possible rematch between USC and UConn in the Elite Eight, but that takes second place to the health and recovery of Watkins. I invite everyone to send all their energy to JuJu for a speedy return to the court.
In a game bringing UConn one step closer to title No. 12, the Huskies would first have to dismantle the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits have dominated the Summit League for some time and had an undefeated conference season in which they went 16 – 0. Make no mistake; even though the Summit League is considered a mid-major league, South Dakota State is an excellent team that can run with the best of them.
That was evident in the first few minutes of this game. They came out of the gate running and, for most of the first quarter, looked as though they would give UConn a run for their money. That was until Paige Bueckers got going. In the last 1:57, Bueckers outscored SDST 10 – 2, giving the Huskies a 19 – 14 lead.
UConn Showcased Their Elite Defense
Once UConn got going, the Jackrabbits had no answer for their swarming defense. The turnovers began to pile up for SDST, culminating in 25 turnovers, off of which UConn scored 35 points. Whatever caused the slow start for UConn disappeared as they ran over SDST. The big three for UConn – Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong combined for 66 points, with Bueckers amassing 34 points in 29 minutes.
Fudd scored 17, and Strong scored 15. Paige Meyer was the lone double-digit scorer for the Jackrabbits with 16. UConn held SDST to 41.2% shooting on 21 – 51 and 9 – 22 on three-pointers. The Huskies shot 57.6%, going 38 – 66, and went 8 – 18 on threes. UConn only committed 7 turnovers, off of which SDST scored 11 points.
By halftime, UConn had jumped out to a 43 – 28 lead, not insurmountable, but still a challenge. However, the Huskies outscored the Jackrabbits 29 – 8 in the third quarter, making the fourth quarter almost cosmetic. UConn ended up winning 91 – 57, giving them a total of 194 points in their first two games.
Paige’s Finale in Storrs
This was an emotionally charged game for other reasons as well. Bueckers played her last game at Gampel Pavilion and is the presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft. Bueckers is, in many ways, one of the most humble and appreciative players to come along in quite a while. Not given to overt braggadocio, she is a true team player of the highest caliber.
Of course, winning a national championship is the standard goal at UConn, and if that happens, it will cap what has been a career filled with greatness and devastating injury, and an enormous amount of will to simply get better. Where the Huskies go from here falls in great part on the shoulders of Bueckers, and if this performance is any indication, the possibility of another title is very much a part of the conversation.
This permutation of the Huskies is one of the most dynamic ones we’ve seen in a while. But first, they are going to have to face a very good Oklahoma team and their star transfer, Raegan Beers. Even though their game will be in Spokane, there are Husky fans everywhere, and while it won’t be at all like Gampel, there is a growing sense of what UConn will be able to do.
What they cannot afford is a slow start or missed three-point shots. Bueckers, Fudd, Ashlynn Shade, and Strong will have to zero in on that part of their game. They will also have to have a flawless defense against a tough and determined group of Sooners. They will meet on Saturday, March 29, with UConn, hoping for an even sweeter Sweet 16.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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