UConn sophomore Aji Fad Husky injured his right knee in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to Notre Dame and is expected to miss three to six weeks.
The news, announced by UConn on Tuesday, was something of a déjà vu nightmare for husky dog lovers who have watched UConn be devastated by injuries over the past 12 months. Paige Bookers and Fudd are almost a year apart against the same team. Once again, Buckers, 2020-21 National Player of the Year, and Fudd, who has had a scoring blast against multiple top 10 teams this season and has her name in the early conversations for the 2022-23 awards. , share a bench together as well. They played nine games last year when both were sidelined (knee and foot injuries respectively).
At the very least, Fudd’s prognosis indicates she’s expected to return this season, while Buckers (with a torn ACL) won’t be seen until 2023-24.
UConn Injury Bug Affects Multiple Players: Freshman ice brady Missed the season with a dislocated patellar.graduate student Dorka Juhas He has missed the past five games after breaking his thumb against Texas on November 14.
Fudd, who suffered a torn right MCL and ACL in April 2019 and suffered leg problems that prevented him from being fully healthy as a freshman, could return as early as later this month, or as late as January 17. there is. On a scale of 3 to 6 weeks.
ESPN.com’s Alexa Philippou, MA Voepel and Charlie Creme discuss how Fudd’s injury will affect the Huskies’ season trajectory.
How will Fudd’s absence affect the Husky? How will the line-up change?
The basketball world was just beginning to see Fudd’s potential as a potential generational talent. That show isn’t over for the season yet, but will be on hiatus for the next three to six weeks.
UConn’s already thin back coat just got thinner. Husky’s healthy guards he’s down to four. Nika Muhl, Lou Lopez Senechal, caroline ducharm When Ines BettancourtAside from a great burst against Iowa a few weeks ago, Ducharme didn’t look like himself as he returned from offseason hip surgery and a stiff neck that kept him out of the season opener. , Bettancourt has the fewest appearances on the team and is not ready to play a big role.
Now would be an ideal time for Ducharme to play like a standout freshman, as Fudd and Buckers did last season when they were injured. A lot will fall on her and Lopez Seneschal as threats from the perimeter, and Mule will have a lot more responsibility as a ballhandler and scorer. UConn could at least add a little more robust frontcourt depth with Juhász at the back and add another scorer into the fold. Her absence was missed in Sunday’s loss to Notre Dame.
Geno Auriemma’s MO during the seemingly endless string of injuries the Huskies have suffered since last year, nobody needs to be Azzie Fudd or Paige Bookers alone, each giving a little more to the best version. It means that you have to be yourself. No player will suddenly average 24.0 points (Fudd’s PPG heading to Notre Dame), but if everyone can collectively do their part, UConn will be (relatively) unscathed. You are most likely to get out of this situation.
The good news for UConn fans, at least in the short term, is that the Huskies haven’t lost consecutive games since 1993. Aaliyah Edwards I know what it takes from last year to survive the dreaded spell of injury. Philippaw
What are the biggest scheduling challenges during Fudd’s absence? How will this affect the Big East races?
If Fudd’s absence lasts as short as three weeks, she’ll miss at least four games: v Princeton (Thursday), Maryland (Sunday, 3pm ET, ABC), and Uncasville, CT. vs Florida State (December 15). 18, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN), and vs. Seton Hall (Dec. 21).
These teams have a combined 27-9 record, with the Terps (vs. Notre Dame) and Pirates (vs. Georgia and Marquette) already scoring notable victories. In short, all of these games can present challenges for Huskies without Fudd.
UConn will travel to face No. 18 Creighton on December 28th. This is his day in three weeks, and he is projected as one of UConn’s more difficult Big East games. After that, the Huskies will finish his 2022 at home against Marquette on December 31st.
It seems likely that Fudd won’t be playing the rest of 2022 simply because she and the Huskies have to focus on her long-term future. We will be back on January 17th.
Every team in the Big East has a winning record, except Butler, who goes 4-4. St. John’s leads with his 8-0 record. UConn lost the conference game (to Villanova) last season. It was the Huskies’ first league loss since 2013 and the dissolution of the old Big East. UConn are clearly still Big East favorites, but the absence of Fudd is a concern in the face of a league that is doing well this season.
The 2023 Huskies’ marquee non-conference game will take place in Tennessee on January 26 (8:00 PM ET, ESPN) and will face No. 1 South Carolina on February 5. Fudd played 16 minutes and was held to 3 points.
Gamecocks look very strong. Tennessee is unranked, with him 4th to 5th. Still, it’s a rivalry game that Fudd would very much like to get into, and will be played in just over seven weeks from now. Forpel
How will Fudd’s absence affect the rest of women’s college basketball?
In her start to the season, Fudd was mentioned in the Player of the Year race, along with the incumbent favorite forwards. Aaliyah Boston South Carolina, Iowa State Guard Kaitlyn Clarklead Division I in points scored (28.2 PPG) for the second straight season.
Last year, the race fell to Boston and Clark after a knee injury sustained on December 5, 2021 restricted the Viewkers to 17 games. She may be for her too. That said, last season Boston led her team to a national championship and was a clear choice.
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Olivia Myles had 21 points and 8 rebounds in Notre Dame’s impressive victory over UConn.
If Fudd comes back strong, she could still be part of the race. As long as Boston and Clark remain healthy and productive as they’ve shown for so long, they’re still the frontrunners. As for other possible players, from the balance of Stanford, who is ranked 2nd in the world, it would be a little hard to stand out if there is only one player, Cameron Brink Probably their prime candidate.
Indiana Mackenzie Holmes She leads her fourth-place team in scoring and rebounding and is second in Division 1 in field goal percentage (69.6). And while No. 11 LSU has yet to face a ranked or Power 5 team, angel wreath Leads Division I in rebounding (14.2) and ranks seventh in scoring average (23.1). — Forpel
How will Fudd’s absence affect the progress of UConn in Bracketology? What are the ripple effects?
UConn is the 4th No. 1 seed on Tuesday. Bracket scienceand deciding whether the Huskies or Ohio State should be in last place on the top line was the most time-consuming part of this week’s bracket predictions. If possible, their status will not change.
An important aspect to watch is whether UConn will struggle without Fudd and start playing well again when she returns.If that happens and Fudd stays fit for the NCAA Tournament, the Commission will measure losses in her absence differently. are more highly valued by teams with When Hood than without her.
Clearly, the longer Fudd’s absence drags on, the more questionable UConn’s situation becomes if he can’t beat teams like Maryland, Tennessee, Clayton and Villanova next month.
The bottom line will depend on how the Huskies play in the next three to six weeks, whether they can beat the difficult schedule ahead, and how Fudd and UConn see her return. about it. — cream
