NCAAW: What can Paige, UConn prove in the Big East Tournament?

rewrite this content and keep HTML tags

If not for their seven-season stint in the American Athletic Conference, UConn would be going for their 12th-straight Big East Tournament title. Instead, the Huskies, currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, will have to settle for a fifth-straight conference championship trophy, having rejoined the Big East in 2021.

This season, UConn, once again, went undefeated in regular-season conference play. More precisely, they were untested, winning their 18 games by an average of almost 30 points per game. In fact, Paige Bueckers has never lost a Big East game in her career, having been injured when the Huskies have thrice stumbled against conference opponents over the past five seasons.

So, when the Big East Tournament tips off at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on Friday, UConn dominance is the expectation, with Huskies likely demolishing opponents without any drama or distress.

But, is there anything UConn can prove, or improve upon, before the Biggest Dance?

Unlike other top teams contending for a national championship, UConn and head coach Geno Auriemma have the luxury of using their conference tournament as a laboratory to experiment with different looks, sharpen various sets and explore alternative schemes. That, more than another tournament trophy for the trophy case is Storrs, might be the Huskies’ most important mission this weekend.

Here are three things UConn can perfect before beginning their quest for the program’s first national title since 2016:

1. Peak Paige

Paige Bueckers.

Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images

In UConn’s best win of the season, their Feb. 16 victory at South Carolina that snapped the Gamecocks’ 71-game home winning streak, Paige Bueckers was in control, conducting a Husky offense that dropped nearly 90 points on a usually-stingy South Carolina defense. Even though her shot did not fall at her typical rate, going just 3-for-12 from the field, Bueckers was the best player on the floor, orchestrating and elevating her teammates.

Of course, on-ball Paige is not always Bueckers’ customary role within the UConn offense, as she can also operate effectively without the ball in her hands. That versatility is a big reason why she was named the Big East Player of the Year for the third time, as well as why she was inducted into the Huskies of Honor on Senior Day.

But head coach Geno Auriemma wants Bueckers to find the perfect balance of on-ball and off-ball synergy. After UConn’s loss to Tennessee, one of the Huskies’ more disappointing performances, Auriemma chastised Bueckers for not being the best player on the floor, seemingly wanting her to demand the ball and take charge during the game’s toughest moments.

Throughout the Big East Tournament, Bueckers can comfortably float between both roles. Yet, in the later rounds of the NCAA Tournament, that will not suffice. The pressures and burdens on Bueckers will increase, requiring that she expertly calibrate her offensive role. Most likely, that will require grabbing the reins and guiding the Huskies. It’s something that she’s done before. And it’s something she must do again if UConn is to win it all.

2. Unleash Aubrey and Ashlynn

Connecticut v South Carolina — Ashlynn Shade.

Aubrey Griffin and Ashlynn Shade, in ways similar and different, both can provide bursts of energetic play for the Huskies that likely will prove crucial during their championship chase.

Limited to just 10 games this season after tearing her ACL over a year ago, Griffin quickly rediscovered the relentlessness that defines her game: skying for rebounds, being active in passing lanes and earning UConn easy transition scores. Although her shaky shot can make her offensive fit uneven, Griffin deserves the opportunity to inject games with her good chaos.

Shade, in contrast, has a sure shot, popping off the floor with a pure stroke that has her converting 43.8 percent of her 3s this season. Of course, she’s not just a shooter, also bringing Griffin-style hustle, epitomized by the second chances she earned the Huskies in their signature win over the Gamecocks. She, like Griffin, needs to be primed to serve as a gap-filling game changer.

3. Confidence for Kaitlyn and KK

Kaitlyn Chen and KK Arnold probably have not had as smooth of seasons as envisioned, despite UConn’s success.

After transferring from Princeton, having collected a slew of All-Ivy honors during her tenure with the Tigers, Chen has not enjoyed a seamless integration in Storrs. A solid lead guard, she lacks the preternatural abilities of Bueckers, which, a bit unfairly, spotlights her shortcomings. She’s also been too hesitant to fire off shots, despite her better than 38.2 percent mark from 3. Chen, however, has to have confidence in what she can do and what those things bring to the team. Otherwise, she’ll be spending her first, and only, March with the Huskies as an observer.

Chen’s arrival minimized Arnold’s role, with the sophomore guard averaging fewer minutes and, in turn, less production than she did as a freshman. A player whose effectiveness is amplified when she given the opportunity to play freely and boldly, Arnold’s eagerness can result in a quick hook from Auriemma. Hopefully, the head coach can resist his reactionary instincts and empower Arnold, allowing her to thrive as a difference maker in March’s tensest moments.

Big East Tournament schedule

All games will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

First round — Friday, Mar. 7

Game 1: No. 8 St. John’s vs. No. 9 Butler, 11 a.m. ET (Big East Digital Network)

Game 2: No. 7 Providence vs. No. 10 Georgetown, 1:30 p.m. ET (Big East Digital Network)

Game 3: No. 6 DePaul vs. No. 11 Xavier, 4 p.m. ET (Big East Digital Network)

Quarterfinals — Saturday, Mar. 8

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 UConn, 12 p.m. ET (FS1)

Game 5: No. 4 Marquette vs. No. 5 Villanova, 2:30 p.m. ET (FS2)

Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. No. 2 Creighton, 7 p.m. ET (FS2)

Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 3 Seton Hall, 9:30 p.m. ET (FS2)