Paige Bueckers will need to elevate her game as the Huskies approach March. The Player of the Year contender has experienced a slight slump in recent performances, although she stood out in the dominant win over Providence. However, her chances of securing Player of the Year could diminish, as Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo has been gaining momentum recently.
On the Courtside Club, show host Rachel Annamarie DeMita sat down to host an exclusive interview with Hidalgo. It looks like she has pulled ahead of the Huskies guard, however, with DeMita calling the Fighting Irish guard the best player in the country. The reporter had nothing but praise for the point guard. “To see you have come so far, and in my eyes become the number one player in the country. I am just so impressed with your game and how you’ve been leading your team.”
Hidalgo has truly stepped up her game this season. The Notre Dame standout is averaging about 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, helping lead her team to an undefeated conference record. DeMita mentioned that Hidalgo never had a dream school and entrusted the process to God’s plan—and it seems to have paid off!
She’s making a strong case for Player of the Year, especially with Paige Bueckers experiencing some fluctuations in her performance. It will be fascinating to see which of the two claims the prestigious award, and which team advances further in March. Both UConn and Notre Dame are strong contenders for the Final Four, raising the question of how they would fare against each other.
Is the slump over for Paige Bueckers?
In UConn’s loss to the Tennessee Lady Vols, their star player Bueckers just did not show up. Her performance left a lot to be desired, and it wasn’t just one game either. Paige Bueckers was going through a definitive slump. She wasn’t shooting as many threes, and her play style looked a lot less confident.
However, things took a turn for the better against Providence on Saturday. Paige Bueckers put up 20pts on 50/40/100 splits, contributing majorly in their blow-out victory against the Friars.
On top of her offensive contributions, Hidalgo also showed impressive defensive skills. Bueckers battled through screens with determination and proved to be a strong on-ball defender. The Player of the Year candidate racked up 4 steals in just 27 minutes, showcasing her ability on both ends of the court. Fans were thrilled to see this defensive side of her, as the effort she put in was a clear reminder of her outstanding talent.
There are many questions surrounding Paige Bueckers, and she has addressed several of them. However, the real test will come in March for both Bueckers and Hidalgo. Their ability to lead their teams to success and navigate through challenges will be crucial in shaping the future of their careers.
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