Paige Bueckers is enjoying in her remaining March Insanity earlier than heading to the WNBA, and she or he has been sporting her typical apparel.
The 23-year-old guard who has made historical past this season is hoping to steer the No.2 seed UConn Huskies to glory.
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She is on the forefront of the motion once more as she seems to be for a greater run after UConn had been knocked out of final 12 months’s NCAA Match within the Ultimate 4 by Caitlin Clark’s Iowa.
Projected No.1 WNBA draft decide Bueckers stands out on the courtroom not solely due to her potential but in addition as a result of she opts to put on knee pads on each legs throughout video games.
Right here, talkSPORT.com takes a take a look at why that is the case…
Why does Bueckers put on knee pads?
Knee pads are usually not unusual in basketball.
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They’re used to assist shield gamers from damage, serving to to cut back influence on the knee joints and cushioning shock when leaping, touchdown and pivoting on the courtroom.
However for Bueckers, they’re essential to her sport as she has already suffered two critical knee accidents in her faculty basketball profession.
In December 2021, she suffered a tibial plateau fracture and torn meniscus which saved her out of motion for 19 video games in complete.
After which in July 2022, she tore her anterior essential ligament (ACL) in her left knee and was pressured to endure surgical procedure earlier than lacking the complete 22/23 season.
Bueckers made a return to enjoying two years in the past and has happily averted one other difficulty since.
She had worn knee pads earlier than her accidents, however they’re sure to be serving to her forestall an additional damage when she performs now.
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It leaves her in an awesome situation in March Insanity and her full confidence is actually again after two lengthy recoveries.
The UConn Huskies are massive contenders for glory within the NCAA Match and they’ll need to declare a championship.
Bueckers is enjoying an enormous half in that push for glory regardless of having a lesser function in her group’s big 103-34 win over Arkansas State.
The 69-point blowout was the fourth-largest margin of victory for an NCAA event sport in program historical past.
The 66-16 hole on the half marked the second-largest halftime lead in NCAA event historical past and was tied for the second-most factors in any half within the occasion’s historical past.
UConn then went on to beat South Dakota State to succeed in the Candy 16 the place they are going to be going through Oklahoma.
That is Bueckers’ final probability at going all the best way in March Insanity, as she is about to show skilled and enter the WNBA draft.
She is tipped to go because the No.1 decide if she declares, particularly if she will maintain her kind up this season within the event.
So there’s a lot using on this for Bueckers who remains to be on her journey to the highest after extremely getting back from two critical accidents.
March Insanity Key Dates
Choice Sunday – March 16
First 4 – March 18-19 (males); March 19-20 (girls)
First Spherical – March 20-21 (males); March 21-23 (girls)
Second Spherical – March 22-23 (males); March 23-24 (girls)
Candy 16 – March 27-28 (males); March 28-29 (girls)
Elite Eight – March 29-30 (males); March 30-31 (girls)
Ultimate 4 – April 4 (girls); April 5 (males);
Championship Video games – April 6 (girls); April 7 (males)
NCAA Finals betting information – Suggestions and techniques for the 2025 bracket