Paige Bueckers and No. 9 UConn overwhelm Seton Hall

Basketball, College, Featured, Seton Hall University

January 18, 2024

For the first time this season, the Seton Hall Pirates (11-7) sold out Walsh Gymnasium and had the opportunity to play in front of an electrifying crowd. The Pirates didn’t disappoint in the slightest, in fact they began the game in an extremely fast-paced that threw the #9 ranked UConn Huskies (15-3) off balance. Surprisingly, the Pirates found ways to disrupt the rhythm of UConn’s superstars Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, and Nika Muhl. The speed and the pressure applied by the Pirates when in transition allowed for easy points and a lack of communication for the Huskies.

“I thought the way they came out was aggressive, they continued to attack us,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma states in the post-game press conference. “They took advantage of misses we had on the other end and attacked us in transition.”

“Not to mention, they were shooting the three as if they were the best three-point shooting team in the country,” he continued. “Before this game, they were averaging five threes a game, however tonight they landed 11.”

“I thought the way they came out was aggressive, they continued to attack us,” @UConnWBB head coach Geno Auriemma states in the post-game press conference. “They took advantage of misses we had on the other end and attacked us in transition.” https://t.co/NCo3V84Wni pic.twitter.com/Yu5b2H8EKa

— John “Woods” Armwood III (@J_Armwood908) January 20, 2024

Ultimately, the Huskies defeated the Pirates, 83-59.

What Makes Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies so Special?

Despite Bueckers recording 32 points and seven rebounds, credit was given by the Huskies to the defensive efforts of the Pirates. Earlier in the game, the Huskies struggled to find their rhythm, yet this didn’t waiver their patience or confidence.

“In the first five minutes of the game, it seemed that they didn’t miss,” UConn superstar guard Paige Bueckers expresses. “So just trying to weather that storm because we understand basketball is a game of runs, so we knew to keep our composure and know our run was coming.”

“In the first five minutes of the game, it seemed that they didn’t miss,” UConn superstar guard @paigebueckers1 expresses. “So just trying to weather that storm because we understand basketball is a game of runs, so we knew to keep our composure and know our run was coming.” https://t.co/NMK5b5vHxM pic.twitter.com/W2r9CkHGBi

— John “Woods” Armwood III (@J_Armwood908) January 20, 2024

Throughout the game, the Pirates attempted to make the game competitive and ultimately earned the Huskies' respect. That said, while the Pirates may have lost the game, they may have unlocked an unspoken potential within their team. In fact, Pirates head coach Tony Bozzela was even surprised by their effort and expects this effort on a nightly basis. Moving forward, this may have helped create more identity for the younger players while also instilling confidence in this fairly young squad.

“After the game, I asked Tony [Geno Auriemma says], ‘You guys normally play like this every night?’”

“No, in fact, I wish we would,” responded Bozzela.

What’s Next for the Seton Hall Pirates?

On Monday evening, the Pirates will take on the St. John Red Storm (11-8) at home. Ideally, the Pirates look to bounce back and get this ship back on track with March rapidly approaching.