Geno Auriemma makes his feelings clear on Villanova player’s dive that got Paige Bueckers injured: “It’s in heat of the moment”

Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies are front and center of the 2024-2025 Big East Conference with their dominant showing. The team just won their fourth straight conference game against the Villanova Wildcats on Sunday, Jan. 5, by a staggering 31 points, 83-52.

It seems as though Auriemma is commanding his squad to a deep run come March this year, as his last taste of an NCAA national championship was all the way back in 2016. Unfortunately, however, his fourth-year star Paige Bueckers was ruled out of the Wildcats game with 1:17 left in the third quarter due to a lower body sprain.

Good news for the 11-time national champion coach and the UConn faithful though, as Bueckers is slated to only miss the games this week and could be back as soon as the next. During the pre-game press conference for UConn's matchup against Xavier on Wednesday, Auriemma cleared the air on his thoughts towards freshman Jasmine Bascoe who dove towards the lose ball that caused the injury.

"It's in the heat of the moment, so if you look back at it and you probably watched the video, you would go, 'Who had the best access to that ball?' But, kids are kids, and they wanna win and they want to play hard," he explained. (Timestamp: 3:16)

"So, from what I could see, I didn't see anything other than a basketball play," Auriemma then added.

Bueckers finished the fixture with 15 points, three rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a block as the Huskies came away with the win that was already lop-sided at the point when the graduating sensation got injured. Bascoe posted 12 markers, four rebounds, three assists and two swipes.

Geno Auriemma says Paige Bueckers just wants to get back on the basketball court immediately

Later on, Auriemma was asked about Bueckers' initial reaction to her injury. The 70-year-old tactitian first said that she was frustrated but later re-asserted that she is looking at the time off positively.

"You can imagine, she's pissed more than anything about having to miss any time at all. The thing that happens to a lot of athletes when they've been through something in the past is the fear of, 'Do I have to go through something again?,'" Auriemma said. (3:50)

"She's great. I spent a lot of time talking with her yesterday and today, and she's in great spirits," he further said.

The whole UConn Huskies camp is optimistic that their fourth-year standout could return as soon as their matchup against the St. John's Red Storm next Wednesday.