Geno Auriemma Says Paige Bueckers Wasn't 'Any Good' in UConn's Loss to South Carolina

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma called out star guard Paige Bueckers after the team's 73-57 loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Monday. 

"I don't think she was any good today, to be honest," Auriemma said of Bueckers after the game. "I thought the first half, there were a lot of great moments that she had but I think for the entire second half, I don't think she was much of a factor."

The sophomore led the No. 2 Huskies with 19 points and seven assists in the Battle 4 Atlantis matchup, but only six of her points came in the second half. She was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as UConn was outscored 16-3.

There are lofty expectations on Bueckers entering the season after she became the first freshman ever to be named the Associated Press National Player of the Year in women's basketball.

She averaged 20.0 points, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game last year while leading the squad to the Final Four.

Bueckers has been a bit more inconsistent to start 2021-22, scoring 34 in the season-opener before being held to 29 points over the next two games combined. After her 1-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc on Monday, the guard only has a 27.8 three-point percentage (5-of-18) through four games.

Auriemma is clearly holding her to a high standard and is looking for more out of the talented player.

On the other end of the court, Aliyah Boston emerged as a Player of the Year contender herself with 22 points and 15 rebounds in the marquee battle.