When question about Paige Bueckers’ IG followers did not sit right with $18 million worth Geno Auriemma: “That’s not a really good question to ask”

UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma is known as one of the richest coaches in college basketball with a net worth of $18 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. What he doesn't have is a big following on social media like what Paige Bueckers has.

Auriemma did a Q&A session with the UConn community in a video uploaded on YouTube in 2020. One of the questions he was asked was about reaching Bueckers in follower count on Instagram, which he doesn't believe will happen.

"You're trying to get on my good side to get tickets," Auriemma said (25:15). "That's not a really good question to ask. Trust me, my goal is not to catch Paige Bueckers. I think she's got like half a million something like that. That's not my goal. I won't be on there enough to catch her.

"But the interesting part about it is, I think when she starts practice with us, the furthest thing from our mind is gonna be how many Instagram followers, she got. Trust me on that."

What's next for Geno Auriemma, UConn

It was a humorous and logical response from UConn coach Geno Auriemma, considering how much Paige Bueckers' following has risen.

Bueckers' Instagram page has over two million followers. Given her growth as a basketball star and her online activity, it made sense for her account to grow from the 500,000 she had in 2020. While Auriemma posts occasionally, he only has over 50,000 followers.

Auriemma and Bueckers move forward to the second half of the 2024-25 season. The No. 6-ranked UConn Huskies have a 17-2 overall record, including an 8-0 start in conference play. All their victories in Big East play have not been close, all decided via blowouts.

Bueckers leads the way with 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.0 steals on 56.1% shooting, including 41.3% from beyond the arc. Sarah Strong follows suit with 16.9 ppg and 7.9 rpg, while Azzi Fudd provides 11.5 ppg on 40.6% shooting from downtown.

Auriemma and the Huskies are back in action on Wednesday when they take on the Villanova Wildcats at 7 p.m. ET.