Bueckers Tore Meniscus; Return in February
The Story: Sophomore Paige Bueckers underwent surgery on Monday, meaning she is unlikely to return to the court for the Huskies until mid- to late February.
WHAT HAPPENED? Bueckers, who was injured in the Huskies’ win over Notre Dame on Dec. 5, underwent a procedure to repair the anterior tibial plateau fracture in her left leg and a lateral meniscus tear that had not been previously disclosed.
• Patients opt to have surgery on a tibial plateau fracture “to reduce an offset in the articular cartilage — in other words, to make it smoother once again,” Dr. Michael Miranda, chief of orthopedic trauma at Hartford Hospital, told The Hartford Courant. “The other reason would be to increase stability.”
• Bueckers will miss a number of marquee games, including Sunday’s matchup with No. 6 Louisville at Mohegan Sun, the Jan. 17 trip to Oregon and the rematch against top-ranked South Carolina on Jan. 27. She’s also likely to miss the Feb. 6 home game at No. 7 Tennessee, but she should be back for the final week of the regular season and the Big East tournament.
• It will be interesting to see how the Huskies handle Bueckers’ absence, which could total around 20 games — more than half the season. They’ll still be favored for many of their Big East games, but we hope they will have figured things out to make the games against South Carolina and Tennessee competitive. Who would have thought we’d ever type that sentence?
Mora’s First Day to Deliver
The Story: Jim Mora‘s first opportunity to make a tangible impact at UConn is at hand as the new football coach will start to get the first recruits of his tenure into the fold as the early signing period begins today.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Mora took over in November and started to recruit. He hasn’t stopped and has put together a nearly full coaching staff with the purpose of hitting the recruiting trail. We’ll see what Mora can do to salvage the Huskies’ recruiting class between now and the end of the signing period.
WHERE ARE THE HUSKIES? UConn had a well-regarded class — at least by its standards — when Randy Edsall was coach, but after his exit following the loss to Holy Cross in September, the class fell apart.
• Mora has done his best to try to reengage former commits and keep those who had been waffling in the fold. Connecticut’s Gatorade Player of the Year, Victor Rosa, stuck with the program, and two players who once committed, Florida defensive back Donovan Branch and Pennsylvania linebacker Nate Voorhis, recommitted after speaking with Mora.
• The rest? Some went for other offers and Mora decided others aren’t good fits. That’s what happens in football after a coaching change.
POUNDING THE TRANSFER PORTAL: Mora and staff aren’t going to finish their recruiting this month. They’re going to keep trying to find talent for next year.
• If Mora land several transfers, he’s going to do it. The Huskies are looking for more quarterbacks with only Steven Krajewski and the injured Tyler Phommachanh slated to return (Jack Zergiotis is transferring and Micah Leon is reportedly unlikely to return).
• UConn is offering scholarships to multiple quarterbacks and has already nabbed one transfer. Expect the Huskies to get as many transfers as they can as they look for a quick turnaround while Mora builds for the long term.
WHAT’S THE FOCUS? It’s clear that New England schools, and specifically the prep schools in Connecticut, are going to be a target for Mora. UConn expects to sign 11 players today with four having played at prep schools in the state (three alone are from Loomis Chaffee in Windsor).
• UConn hasn’t recruited local prep schools well in recent years and there is a lot of talent within an hour’s drive of Storrs, with Suffield Academy, Loomis, Choate, Avon Old Farms and others regularly churning out Power 5-caliber players. Those players are not necessarily Connecticut natives but they are located firmly in UConn’s recruiting footprint.
BOTTOM LINE: Mora will speak about the first signees later today, and while we don’t expect any recruiting coups, we do expect to find out his recruiting strategy. This is a bridge recruiting class and next year will be the first test of whether Mora can recruit at Connecticut, but there are players available for the taking and Mora is aggressively going after players who are willing to listen.
Morning Reads
• Move over, Ray Allen. Stephen Curry claimed the NBA record for the most 3-pointers made from Allen last night in the Warriors’ game against the Knicks, and we reckon that before the end of the decade, Allen won’t even be in the top 10. (ESPN)
• Rudy Gay has only played in 12 games for the Jazz following an offseason injury, but it’s clear he’s become a valuable player in their rotation. (KSL Sports)
