Paige Bueckers is not dominating on the level of Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins or Hannah Hidalgo, NCAA analyst presents bold take

Robin Lundberg reacted to Geno Auriemma's remark that Paige Bueckers does not need an NCAA championship to be seen as a generational player. The analyst agrees with the coach's take, citing that it creates a perspective shift in the benchmark for a player to showcase their talent.

He also pointed out that Auriemma's comments will help ease the pressure on Bueckers and also act as a counter-statement in case she does not win a title this year. However, Lundberg believes that Bueckers is yet to have a dominating stretch like Caitlin Clark or JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo this season.

"I don't think she (Bueckers) dominated even close to the degree of, say, Caitlin Clark or even at this point she's dominating relative to her peers, currently" he said (Timestamp: 4:54).

"I don't think she's dominating relative to JuJu Watkins. I don't think she's dominating relative to Hannah Hidalgo. I could keep that list going. I mean there's a lot of players who have been as good or better than Paige Bueckers this season."

With that, Robin Lundberg argues that since Geno Auriemma and UConn are known for winning NCAA titles, Bueckers' inability to lift one could act as a stain in her college journey.

Both JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo surpass Paige Bueckers in scoring this season. Watkins is posting 25.5 ppg and Hidalgo averages 25.7 ppg while Bueckers sits more than 20 spots below with 19.4 ppg.

There was a similar trend last season, where Watkins and Hidalgo took top-6 spots and Bueckers was ranked 12th on the NCAA leaderboard.

Geno Auriemma reacts to Paige Bueckers' recent achievement

Paige Bueckers entered Sunday's contest against Seton Hall only six points shy of entering the 2,000 career points club and it only took her a few shots to become the fastest player in UConn history to do so (102 games). The previous record was held by Maya Moore, who did it in 108 games.

Geno Auriemma reacted to her feat in the post-game conference by commending her work ethic.

"I think the points, they signify something. Obviously, they mean a lot," he said. "To be able to put that many points on the board in a short period of time is one tremendous accomplishment, to be able to do it in spite of ups and downs.

"Missing an entire season and a third of another season, to stay mentally locked in, to stay positive, to still be committed to putting the work in. There is a lot that goes into being able to be out there, making the shot she makes, given what she's been to.

"I don't know too many people that work hard at the game as hard and as often as she does. I'm glad she's being rewarded, and I'm sure there are a few more points in her future."

Paige Beuckers became the 12th player in Huskies history to touch the 2,000 points mark. She postponed her WNBA entry last summer for a shot at the NCAA championship and is still the frontrunner for the top pick in the 2025 draft.