“I’m sick of it”: Hoops analyst sounds off over claims of Paige Bueckers’ “slump”

Paige Bueckers has performed at a high level for the UConn Huskies, keeping them in the ranks as one of the best teams in women's college basketball. However, some fans believe that she is currently in a slump, prompting frustration from a basketball analyst.

ESPN uploaded an episode of "The Elle Duncan Show" to YouTube on Tuesday, discussing topics on what they are looking forward to about women's college basketball in 2025, including Paige Bueckers and UConn, Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame and JuJu Watkins and USC.

They went over Bueckers and UConn first, as Duncan expressed her frustration at the idea that the Huskies star is perceived by some to be in a slump. Bueckers is averaging 19.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game on 55.9% shooting from the field this season, not the slump that many fans would think by the definition.

"They (producers) are really out here trying to convince me that Paige Bueckers is in some kind of slump, I'm sick of it... 'What does Paige need to do to get out of this slump?' What slump, you guys? This poor woman, the bar is so high for a woman that's literally on the precipice of history about to become the fastest player in UConn history to hit 2,000 points.

She would break Maya Moore's record. Okay and we're over here saying she's in a slump... She's got the best field goal percentage of her career okay, but she's in a slump? Come on," Duncan said.

How UConn is preparing without Paige Bueckers for a week

The No. 7 Huskies will have to play their next game without Paige Bueckers, who suffered a left knee sprain against Villanova on Sunday.

Coach Geno Auriemma assessed the situation, stating that Bueckers will be out for a week, meaning she will miss at least the next two games against Xavier and Georgetown. He wasn't too concerned about the team's condition, being confident that the squad would step up in light of the star's temporary absence.

“I mean, like, if I didn’t play her for a quarter or something, what it would look like. It’s interesting, because that was one of the comments she made yesterday like ‘Hey, it’s not the end of the world.’ Some other guys are going to have to get an opportunity to step up and do some things," Auriemma said on Tuesday.

"Most of these kids, they want to be in that situation, but it’s also nerve-wracking for them, too, because this is UConn and now you’re going to have to play at a level that means you’re not a freshman.”

UConn is 13-2 on the season, putting up 79.2 points on 50.2% shooting from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc, blowing out opponents by a winning margin of 26.1 points per contest. Aside from Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong has been a force in the team's offense, averaging 17.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.2 steals and 1.3 bpg.

After Wednesday's matchup with Xavier, the No. 7 Huskies will play the Georgetown Hoyas at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C., on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.