Basketball analyst calls out Geno Auriemma’s contradictory statements about Paige Bueckers: “He’s saying all that publicly”

UConn coach Geno Auriemma has been vocal about the team's star player, Paige Bueckers, and her game this season. At times, his public statements heap praise on Bueckers' abilities, while sometimes, they seem to offer contradictory criticisms.

"Courtside Club" podcast host Rachel A DeMita, a former college basketball player at Old Dominion, reacted to Geno Auriemma's comments during a recent episode.

"Just some of the stuff [Geno] says sometimes to me doesn't feel like he takes ownership for some of these things," Rachel said (7:24).

"He says they need to take some of the pressure off Paige. I think he needs to listen to what he just said. He said sometimes she over-penetrates, and then literally two games ago, he was saying that she's too passive and she's not aggressive enough. Now he's saying that she tries to take over when she doesn't need to. And he's saying all this publicly."

Rachel A DeMita continued:

"From what I saw just watching her, it does seem like a player who isn't playing free. There's a difference between playing free and playing in your own head."

Paige Bueckers, who won the Big East Player of the Year last season, is averaging 20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 57.6% from the field this campaign.

Geno Auriemma reveals Paige Bueckers biggest fear

Paige Bueckers has won almost every individual accolade in college basketball, but there’s still one thing she has not conquered.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma opened up about Bueckers' greatest fear — not winning a national championship.

Despite leading UConn to three Final Four appearances in four years, she has yet to win an NCAA title.

"I think it scares her to leave here and be the best player ever to play at UConn without winning a national championship - that it affects your legacy a little bit," Geno Auriemma told The Athletic. "I’ve never said that, and I don’t believe that, but I’ve gotta believe she thinks that, that she needs that to validate who she is."

Bueckers came close to winning the championship in 2022 as a sophomore. UConn lost 49-64 to Dawn Staley's South Carolina in the national title game.

The 6-foot guard has reiterated that this season will be her last at UConn and her focus remains locked in on winning the championship. The No. 4 Huskies are 9-1 this season, having already claimed the Baha Mar Women's Championship tournament.