"It's not limited by your talent": Geno Auriemma dives deep into the "serious responsibility" college players have toward kids

Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies started 2025 strong with a 77-45 win over the Marquette Golden Eagles on Wednesday. They now see their record fortify to 12 wins with just two losses in the 2024-25 season.

During the post-game press conference, Auriemma discussed the narrative that college players, especially stars like Paige Bueckers, have a shared responsibility of serving as role models for the future fans of the game. He said:

"They came to see you (the players) play basketball. You need to show them that it's possible. You might not have my talent, but it's possible for you to get these things done that I'm getting done. It's not limited by your talent or your size or your speed.

"It's only limited by you might not being able to get to Paige Bueckers level, but that doesn't mean there isn't a school somewhere in America that you could play at and be really good at. So, there are more kids watching Paige play that'll never play at this level, and they need to understand that there's a level for them too," Auriemma explained.

Auriemma's wise statement invokes the kind of influence collegiate stars such as Bueckers can have on fans, especially on the next generations of basketball players with growing NIL deals and stellar performances to match it.

In Bueckers' case, the fourth-year sensation has been averaging 20.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals a game in the campaign and such outings from her can bolster her stardom. With rumblings of a No. 1 pick selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft, she can become more of an inspiration to the sport.

For Geno Auriemma, great players must be able to fulfill every role

Paige Bueckers is already an established college star in her own right, and the trajectory of her stardom will be trending upward when she makes it into the WNBA. Later on in the presser, however, Auriemma talked about how she'll need to show fans that great players need to be able to fulfill whatever's needed for the team — even if you'll need to play second fiddle.

"Paige has to be able to do all the things that good basketball players do, not just crazy things that only Paige can do. I thought she was really good at that today, being average Paige," he shared.

Ultimately, the senior finished the fixture with only 12 points, four boards, an assist, two steals and two swats in 26 minutes of action. But, with a blowout victory at bay, there was no need for Bueckers to go all out — which could serve as another lesson learned for her fans.

With championship aspirations this year, players like Bueckers and freshman standout Sarah Strong can become some of the UConn greats for fans and spectators when all is said and done. They return to action Sunday, against the Villanova Wildcats, for the continuation of the Big East Conference games.