Paige Bueckers’ return went so perfectly, it almost felt scripted.
As Geno Auriemma sent her to the scorer’s table to check in six minutes into UConn’s win over St. John’s — her first time playing since suffering an anterior plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear in her left knee on Dec. 5 — the XL Center crowd roared with approval.
When Bueckers finally entered the game a few moments later, the volume increased and all 9,154 fans in attendance rose to their feet to welcome the superstar back. While her return came at the 3:41 mark of the first quarter, Bueckers re-introduced herself on the final possession of the period.