UConn Advances to the Final Four: A Dynamic Duo’s Journey
SPOKANE, Wash. — After securing their spot in the Final Four, Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma shared a moment at the podium, celebrating their victory. Auriemma glanced at the box score in front of him, not focusing on Bueckers’ impressive 31 points or her playing the entire 40 minutes. Instead, he zeroed in on her four turnovers, shaking his head in disbelief. “What was that?” he queried, directing the question toward her.
Without missing a beat, Bueckers pointed to another column on the stat sheet — her game-high four steals. “Look,” she replied, “I got it back. I got four steals.” Auriemma chuckled, knowing she had a point, even if he wouldn’t fully concede to her argument. Bueckers’ ability to recover from her mistakes, smooth over rough patches, and uplift her teammates is a quality Auriemma has admired for a long time.
In many ways, Bueckers represents the optimistic counterpart to Auriemma’s pragmatic coaching style. Auriemma, a coach renowned for his strategic foresight and meticulous preparation for worst-case scenarios, often finds himself mired in his own critiques. After leading the Huskies to six undefeated seasons, he once spent a bus ride analyzing what went wrong to ensure they could improve the following year. In contrast, Bueckers maintains a refreshing mindset, always focusing on what she can do to contribute positively to the team’s success. “Her mentality is always: This is what I did to help us win. I’m not worried about what the other stuff was,” Auriemma noted. “I’ve admired that in her forever.”
On Monday night, despite the turnovers, Bueckers’ performance was pivotal in leading her team to victory, marking UConn’s 24th Final Four appearance under Auriemma and Bueckers’ fourth. Following their 78-64 win against USC in the Elite Eight, the UConn players celebrated by tossing confetti and embracing their family and friends. However, the atmosphere lacked the grandiosity typically associated with such accomplishments. A team staff member placed the UConn sticker on the bracket poster, indicating their advancement to the Final Four. The celebratory ladders and scissors for cutting down the nets remained untouched, eventually being stowed away, as UConn has a tradition of reserving that honor for national championship victories, rather than Final Four wins.
Perhaps the optimists among them believe there are greater achievements awaiting them down the road. This tradition has persisted long enough that even Auriemma, who can recount missed recruits from 1993, struggles to recall its exact origin. This is the legacy he has built at UConn, with the support of players like Bueckers. He humorously compares UConn to Disneyland and Disney World — all magical realms where the improbable becomes reality, such as 16 Final Fours in 17 years. During the one year they didn’t reach the Final Four, Auriemma attended the men’s tournament as a spectator, enjoying the break from the stress of coaching. Yet, he soon realized how much he missed the thrill of leading his team and the excitement of cutting down nets in triumph.
For Bueckers, the journey to UConn was fueled by a desire to compete in Final Fours and win national championships. While she has achieved the former, the latter remains elusive. Auriemma may not voice it, but it’s clear he yearns to secure a championship for Bueckers. Following the win against USC, he handed the regional championship trophy to her and her fellow seniors, signifying that their journey has far from concluded, although the finish line is within sight. There is still a trophy Bueckers has yet to hold.
Auriemma understands the requirements for success at this level; national championships demand a player who can carry the team. Bueckers embodies this role, demonstrating the capability to rise to the occasion. Her perspective is rooted in optimism, while Auriemma brings experience and scrutiny, having spent years identifying flaws and areas for improvement in her game. Despite facing challenges, including injuries and a pandemic-affected season, Bueckers has remained steadfastly positive, balancing Auriemma’s critical nature.
Nearly four decades into his coaching career, Auriemma can easily list players who have left a lasting impact on him and the program. After becoming the winningest coach in college basketball in November, legends like Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Rebecca Lobo, and Diana Taurasi shared their thoughts on his accomplishment. The landscape of women’s college basketball has changed dramatically, yet Auriemma has adapted while remaining true to himself. Now, he feels a generational shift, as his players transform from his children to his grandchildren.
He has observed Bueckers navigate the challenges of NIL and the growing fame surrounding women’s college basketball, all while maintaining grace and lifting the program’s profile. Auriemma recognizes the unique hurdles that Bueckers faces, and he admires her ability to excel amidst them. “For her to get all the attention she gets, have all the demands on her life, all the expectations in her life, and still be able to deliver?” Auriemma remarked after the USC victory. “I thought she was a unique individual when I saw her in high school. … I think she’s one of the most distinctive players I’ve ever coached.”
For Auriemma, the prospect of finally cutting down the nets with Bueckers signifies more than a national championship; it represents two additional games and 80 more minutes with a player who often serves as his anchor. Whenever he expresses frustration with his players, it’s Bueckers who reassures him, reminding him of their capabilities: “Nah, they can do this. They’re really good at this.” “She always sees the best in everybody,” Auriemma praised, calling her refreshing.
As he sat at the podium following the victory, having watched Bueckers celebrate with her teammates, Auriemma reflected on her contributions to the program. He couldn’t resist throwing in some playful jabs, as is his nature, but then he leaned into the microphone and said, “I’m really going to miss her,” before catching himself with a smirk. “I can’t say that out loud.”
Perhaps there are still more milestones to achieve together — 80 more minutes of gameplay and a final ascent up the ladder. There are greater victories ahead, and because Bueckers is who she is, she believes in their potential. Auriemma, having spent years alongside her, likely shares in that belief.
(Photo of Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
