UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers paid tribute to her coach, Geno Auriemma, ahead of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. On Tuesday’s episode of the ESPN radio show “Freddie and Harry,” the senior guard shared with hosts Freddy Coleman and Harry Douglas that she has been fortunate to play under Auriemma.
Bueckers was joined by Azzi Fudd on the show, where Douglas asked the two of them what the “winningest women’s college basketball coach” meant to both of them. Both Bueckers and Fudd said they were both grateful for the wisdom and knowledge Auriemma has imparted on them.
“I like to call him an evil genius,” Bueckers said. “He knows everything. He’s been through everything. He has so much wisdom. There’s nothing that he hasn’t experienced in life. Like Azzi said, just going up to his office, getting knowledge from him, getting wisdom, asking him for advice.”
Bueckers added, “He challenges you in ways that you never knew you could be challenged before. That makes you grow as a person, as a player, mentally, physically. And it’s everything you came to UConn for, to be challenged and to have an honest coach like that.”
“I like to call him an evil genius. He knows everything.” @paigebueckers1
Paige Bueckers and @azzi_35 on how impactful @UConnWBB Head Coach Geno Auriemma is in their life ⬇️ https://t.co/7ksUWPXOjJ pic.twitter.com/zbDBpQ8RgX
— Freddie and Harry (@FreddieandHD) March 19, 2025
A look at Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma’s NCAA Tournament history
If there is one thing UConn star Paige Bueckers and coach Geno Auriemma have yet to accomplish, it is to win a national championship for their college. The two have come close to winning the title several times since Bueckers joined the Huskies in 2020.
In her first season at UConn, Bueckers helped the team reach the Final Four. She also shone bright in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in five games. Before losing to Arizona in the national semifinals, UConn bested High Point, Syracuse, Iowa, and Baylor.
Bueckers helped bring UConn to the national championship game in her sophomore season, averaging 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists through six games in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. However, she would suffer another heartbreak when the Huskies fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the finals.
Last year, in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Bueckers led the Huskies to another Final Four appearance, averaging 25.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. UConn defeated Jackson State, Syracuse, Duke, and USC before falling to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the semifinals.
Paige Bueckers has one final opportunity to win the elusive NCAA championship. Her quest to win the 2025 March Madness starts when the UConn Huskies face the Arkansas State Red Wolves this weekend.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
