WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME DAY
No. 3 UCONN at GEORGIA TECH
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where: McCamish Pavilion, Atlanta, Georgia
Records: UConn (5-1), Georgia Tech (6-2)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: UConn Sports Network
KEEP AN EYE ON
Life without Paige: Sophomore star Paige Bueckers will be out for the next six to eight weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture during the final minute of Sunday’s game against Notre Dame.
Without the Huskies’ floor general, the team will need to step up in every aspect to show it’s more than just the Bueckers Show. They will be relying on the leadership of seniors Christyn Williams, Evina Westbrook and Olivia Nelson-Ododa to pace offense and mentally keep the team in check.
The last time the team played without Bueckers was against Georgetown on Jan. 23, 2021. Nelson-Ododa took control of the reins and led with a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds. However, the Huskies are facing a Georgia Tech team fresh off an upset win and looking to extend its momentum. While UConn will always benefit off NelsonOdoda’s strong rebounding, it’ll need even more players to step up.
Backcourt injuries: The Husky’s backcourt is down to just three guards with no backups. On Wednesday afternoon, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said sophomore Nika Mühl will be out for “probably” three weeks with a foot injury. Mühl was expected to start in place of Bueckers.
That likely leaves freshman Caroline Ducharme as a starter. Ducharme has played in five games — she did not play against South Carolina — and had only taken three field goal attempts across a total of 25 minutes before Sunday. The 6-foot-2 guard did have a breakout performance against Notre Dame, scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three rebounds in 14 minutes. While her positive performance is timely, UConn will need her to bring that level of energy and production to every game moving forward with such limited backcourt availability.
Homecoming for ONO: Thursday will be the first time Nelson-Ododa will get to play in front of a home crowd of family and friends as a Husky. The Winder, Georgia native is expected to have a contingent of upward of 40 people at UConn’s game at Georgia Tech, where the forward will have the perfect stage to continue her hot streak of dominating the glass.
Since UConn’s loss to South Carolina, the senior has improved immensely, controlling UConn’s rebound game, using her body as a physical defensive weapon in drawing fouls and creating stops. She leads the Huskies with 7.3 rebounds per game and 13 blocks on the season.
Scouting Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets are fresh off upsetting No. 19 Georgia on Sunday, 55-54. Three players average in double figures with 6-5 junior Nerea Hermosa leading with 11.6 points and 6-4 fifth-year senior Lorela Cubaj at 12.3 rebounds per game. Georgia Tech’s two loses this season come from Purdue (53-52 on Dec. 1) and Auburn (59-51 on Nov. 21).
Thursday will be UConn’s third all-time meeting against Georgia Tech with the Huskies winning the previous two (71-51 on Nov. 21, 2010 in Atlanta and 82-71 on Nov. 16, 2008 in Storrs).