Paige Bueckers out 6-8 weeks for fracture

The second-year basketball player from UConn, Paige Bueckers, will be out for six to eight weeks with a broken left knee suffered Sunday.

The reigning Player of the Year had MRI and CT scans on Monday that revealed a tibial plateau fracture. Bueckers collapsed with 40 seconds remaining in the victory of the Huskies 73-54 about Our Lady while dribbling the ball. Two teammates carried her off the Gampel Pavilion floor.

“Obviously, we are extremely disappointed in Paige and the fact that she suffered this injury,” said the Huskies coach, Geno Auriemma, it’s a statement. “It would be very difficult to describe how much basketball means to Paige and how much her teammates mean to her. Not being able to do what she is passionate about, being there for her teammates, is very difficult for her.

“We have had players who have been injured in the past and my philosophy here is: I am not interested in how quickly we can get someone back; I am interested in what is best for them in the long term. Every decision that is made is going to prioritize whatever is best for Paige and her career. Everyone involved with this program will be there to support Paige throughout her recovery process. “

We’re all behind you, Paige ???? pic.twitter.com/ecVLeWwqYZ

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 7, 2021

Bueckers, who underwent right ankle surgery in April, leads No. 3 UConn in points per game (21.2), assists (6.2), steals (2.7) and minutes (36.3), and is second on the team in rebounding (5.5). and locks (0.8). She was named Naismith, Wooden, AP, espnW and USBWA Player of the Year as a rookie.

The estimated recovery time would put the return of Bueckers in mid to late January, before the rematch of UConn with No. 1 South Carolina.

Depth of UConn, which seemed like a force heading into the season, has waned in the first month of the season. In addition to Bueckers, rookie Azzi Fudd is also sidelined with a foot injury. It will be reevaluated the following week. Third-year player Aubrey Griffin is also unavailable due to ankle and back injuries, and they have not shared a schedule for his return.

UConn (5-1) returns to action against Georgia Tech Thursday. You have appointments outside of conference against UCLA on Saturday and vs. No. 7 Louisville December 19. After a 10 day break, UConn will begin a seven-game stint against opponents from the Big East Conference on December 29. The Huskies’ only loss has been to No. 1 South Carolina, and the teams are scheduled to clash on January 27 at Columbia.