“I only have criticism of Paige Bueckers”: After questioning dynamic with Geno Auriemma, hoops analyst narrows down on UConn star’s shortcomings

Paige Bueckers, one of women’s college basketball stars, finds herself as the topic of discussion from hoops analyst Rachel DeMita. In a video from her YouTube channel on Monday, she analyzed the dynamic between Bueckers and UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma.

DeMita suggested that external factors, including coaching and media pressure, may be influencing Bueckers’ on-court mentality.

"I only have criticism of Paige Bueckers,” DeMita said. “Because I see how much raw talent she has and how much natural ability with what her skillset is like as a guard. Her bag is really deep.”

Paige Bueckers’ "bag," or repertoire of moves and skills, is extensive, allowing her to dominate games when she decides to take over.

While praising her undeniable talent and deep skillset, DeMita highlighted moments where Bueckers’ aggression seemed to falter, narrowing down on what she sees as a mental barrier.

“When you see games where she isn't as aggressive as she can, it really is a mentality thing,” DeMita said. “It's less about what her abilities are because when she wants to score, a lot of the times she's making plays happen.”

In UConn’s 72-70 loss at the USC Trojans on Saturday, Bueckers played a pivotal role in her team’s comeback, putting up what Demita termed a “quiet” 22 points.

“I'm not saying that she had a bad game,” DeMita said. “There's always something about Paige, it's always like a quiet 22 points or 20 points.

"I just feel like at some point in time, something got in her head.”

Geno Auriemma has emphasized efficiency in her game and called her out for passing too much or taking shots she shouldn’t. Rachel DeMita believes that the assessment has caused Bueckers to overthink her decisions on the court.

Additionally, media scrutiny might add to the pressure, as Bueckers constantly finds herself in the spotlight, balancing the expectations of being a team leader, meeting personal goals and navigating public perceptions.

When Paige Bueckers praised Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo

The meeting of then-No. 2 UConn and then-No. 8 Notre Dame on Dec. 12 was a showcase of two All-American talents, but it was Hannah Hidalgo who stole the show.

The Fighting Irish guard delivered a dominant performance, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, leading Notre Dame to a 79-68 victory and handing the Huskies their first loss of the season. Her playmaking and defensive intensity set the tone for the Irish, while Bueckers faced intense defensive pressure.

“Hannah is obviously the head of the snake,” Bueckers said after Hidalgo's dominant display. “She’s a pest on defense and brings so much energy and fire to her team. That’s what makes her so tough to play against.”

Hidalgo showcased her offensive versatility with six 3-pointers against the Huskies. UConn coach Geno Auriemma also praised her relentless style of play.

“She attacks everything she does, offense, defense and leadership," Auriemma said. "That makes her an incredibly difficult matchup for anyone.”

This marks the second time Hidalgo has led Notre Dame to a double-digit win over UConn.

Last season, as a freshman, she dropped 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a road victory against the Huskies. Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey described her as a “big-stage player” who thrives in high-pressure situations.

Hidalgo’s leadership has propelled No. 3 Notre Dame (10-2) to victories over three top five teams, including USC and Texas, this season.