Additionally, Geno Auriemma gave updates on Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Caroline Ducharme.
Paige Bueckers made her team drill comeback on Wednesday after having surgery on her left knee in December to fix a lateral meniscus tear and an anterior tibial plateau fracture.
After practice on Wednesday, Geno Auriemma remarked, “Today was the first day that she was able to get out on the court where there was some semblance of defense and that she could run up and down on the floor a couple times at two trips at a time for a few minutes.”
Bueckers ran the team through a few half-court offensive plays that involved cutting around the perimeter and pulling up for jump shots during the final thirty minutes of the session that was open to the media. She had previously been restricted to solitary tasks like shooting or, as the coach put it, “mobility testing.”
“From here, we’ll see where we go,” Auriemma remarked. “Who knows? Today was just the first day. Tomorrow, we’ll see how she feels.
Bueckers also had a meeting with Dr. Robert A. Arciero, who leads the UConn Health Department of Orthopedic Surgery’s Sports Medicine Division.
Regarding Bueckers’ visit with the doctor, Auriemma remarked, “I guess they’ll come up with a plan.” “Everything they’ve done thus far has been essentially what they promised it would be.”
Bueckers wore the knee brace she uses on the sidelines during games during practice. That might not stay on her leg indefinitely, though, particularly if Auriemma has an option.
“I understood that she wouldn’t be playing with that brace on. She’s just getting out there and getting a feel for it, which is why (she is) right now, he said. However, I would feel more at ease if she were to play without the brace because if you wear a brace, it indicates that you’re still an
However, there’s still no word on when Bueckers will be back in the game. Although it should go without saying that Auriemma stated she won’t be competing for national player of the year in two days, he failed to specify when she might be prepared.
It will require some time. You can’t just walk out there and run up and down the floor for fifteen minutes and then think you’re going to be able to play in a game after not playing for two and a half months or whatever, the man said.
After suffering a non-contact left knee injury in the closing seconds of UConn’s Dec. 5 victory over Notre Dame, Bueckers had to be helped off the court. She missed the last 16 games for the Huskies after undergoing surgery on December 13.
Leave a Reply