The veterans for third-ranked UConn have fought through the pain to return in time for March Madness

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The veterans for third-ranked UConn have fought through the pain to return in time for March Madness

2025-03-15 22:33 Last Updated At：22:40

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — The injuries and the emotions might have been as different as the four UConn women's basketball teammates, but the desire to return to the court never waned for the quartet of Paige Bueckers, Caroline Ducharme, Azzi Fudd and Aubrey Griffin.

UConn headed into the Big East Tournament having played 143 games over the last four seasons and injuries have forced the veteran members of the third-ranked Huskies to miss 58, 82, 76 and 86 of those games.

Only recently have all four players been able to be healthy enough to hit the court for a UConn team eyeing a 12th national title. The hours in the training room and the tears shed behind closed doors have allowed them to create an unbreakable bond.

“We have been through so much,” Fudd said. “We have been rocks for each other, pillars to lean on and only we know the stuff we’ve been through and how we got through it.”

Griffin, Fudd and Bueckers all had ACL injuries at some point during their UConn careers.

Griffin has been at UConn the longest. She missed 36 games during the 2021-22 season and another 48 over the last two campaigns. She didn't make her 2024-25 season debut until a Jan. 19 win over Seton Hall. Griffin had at least 10 points in three of the final six games in the regular season. She sat out the Big East Tournament because of soreness in her knee.

“I didn’t want to give up,” Griffin said. “I wanted to continue to play the sport that I love.”

When this season began, the feeling was that Griffin would return to the court at some point. There was much more uncertainty for Ducharme as she worked her way back from a concussion that threatened to end her basketball career. Ducharme returned in a Feb. 22 win at Butler.

“There are two different ways you can go with this,” Ducharme said. “You can feel sorry for yourself and step away from the game when it is too hard to be involved in it. There were days when that would have been easier (to retire). What helped me is my teammates have always been there for me and have always supported me. They have always taken care of me when I have been down so I wanted to be able to do my part and still be a part of the team and have a role. I do still believe being a good part of the team isn’t just being on the court, I wanted to be there for them, support them and be somebody they can go to.”

Fudd missed 37 of 39 games during the 2023-24 season while Bueckers was forced to sit out the entire 2022-23 season. The two wanted to play together since they first were USA Basketball teammates. It hasn't been easy. However, they are hopeful that the best is yet to come.

"We have been through a lot together," Bueckers said. ""When you are going through tough times with somebody on a team, it makes it so much better because you are sharing that experience. You get to share the joy of what it is like to come back and to be playing basketball again and enjoy your last (year) of college together."

Ducharme said she plans on returning to UConn next season. Fudd, who could be a first-round pick in the WNBA Draft, is deciding whether to come back to UConn or embark on a professional career.

In the meantime, they look to lead the Huskies to a national championship.

“It has been fun for me to watch them navigate all of this because it hasn’t been easy for them,” UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma said. "I am glad they are getting to finish it out in a way that they can be together on and off the court. They have been pretty tight together off the court but it is nice for them to finish with all of them on the court."

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No. 6 St. John's beats Creighton 82-66 for 1st Big East Tournament crown in 25 years

2025-03-16 10:37 Last Updated At：10:41

NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Luis Jr. scored all but two of his 29 points after halftime and No. 6 St. John's made 14 straight shots from the field in the second half to beat Creighton 82-66 on Saturday night for its first Big East Tournament title in 25 years.

Zuby Ejiofor added 20 points and Kadary Richmond had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the top-seeded Red Storm (30-4), who reached 30 wins for the third time in program history before a roaring hometown crowd at sold-out Madison Square Garden.

They earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for their first trip since 2019, making 72-year-old Hall of Famer Rick Pitino the first coach to take six schools to the Big Dance.

The others were Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville and Iona.

“For all the St. John's fans, this is for you!” Pitino proclaimed during a postgame interview on the court, pausing to remove falling confetti from his lips. “St. John's is New York's team!”

Pitino, in his second season with the Johnnies, also became the first coach to win the Big East Tournament at two schools. He’s won three times in his last four seasons in the league, after guiding Louisville to championships in 2009, 2012 and 2013.

“I saved the best for last,” Pitino said to loud cheers from the crowd of 19,812.

Luis, the Big East Player of the Year, also grabbed 10 rebounds and was selected the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He was draped in a Dominican Republic flag as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” after the game.

“I'm so excited. I couldn't be more blessed for this opportunity,” Luis said. “We're going to keep on going.”

Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 15 for second-seeded Creighton (24-10), which fell to 0-5 in Big East championship games since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season.

“It's hard to get to this game, let’s be honest,” coach Greg McDermott said. “We’ve been fortunate to be here quite a few times. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to finish the job.”

After winning their first outright regular-season conference championship in 40 years, this was the fourth Big East Tournament title for the resurgent Johnnies, who made the championship game for the first time since winning the 2000 trophy under Mike Jarvis. The previous two came in the 1980s under Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca, who died Nov. 30 about five weeks shy of his 100th birthday.

“To finally get over the hump, it’s really an unbelievable feeling,” Ejiofor said. “I’m so happy to be a part of history.”

And after the Red Storm cut down the nets at MSG, a message appeared on the giant video screen above center court: “For Looie."

“He would be so proud of this team,” said Pitino, who grew up in New York City and has quickly rebuilt St. John's into a national power again late in his illustrious but checkered coaching career.

“Humility is a big part of my life right now. It wasn’t always that way,” he added.

Luis was whistled for his second foul with 7:19 left before halftime and sat out the rest of the half.

After falling behind by eight early, St. John’s finally took its first lead at 43-41 with 11:55 remaining when backup big man Vince Iwuchukwu scored left-handed in the post over the 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner, the four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

That came 33 seconds after Ejiofor converted a tying three-point play that began a streak of 14 consecutive made field goals for the Johnnies, giving them a 70-55 lead. Several were fast-break layups, although Luis drained a pair of 3-pointers and Aaron Scott nailed one of his own before Ejiofor finally missed a jumper with less than five minutes left.

By then, the Red Storm had gone more than 7 1/2 minutes without missing a shot, and they connected on 17 of their final 19 field goal attempts. Quite an offensive display for a team that entered the game shooting 45% from floor.

“Congrats to St. John’s. They’ve had a remarkable year. Dominated our league and pretty much saved their best for this conference tournament,” McDermott said. “They just wear into you over time.”

St. John’s has won nine straight games, and 19 of 20 since the new year. The team finished 21-0 on its home courts, including 12-0 at MSG — the program’s most wins at The Garden since compiling 13 in 1958-59. The last time the Johnnies finished unbeaten at home was the 1931-32 season.

Bluejays reserve Fedor Zugic injured his right ankle with 11:23 left in the first half and had to be helped off the court toward the locker room. He didn’t return.

Creighton, which entered shooting 74% on free throws, missed six of its first eight from the line and finished 8 for 16.

Creighton: Headed to its fifth straight NCAA Tournament when the brackets are revealed Sunday.

St. John’s: Hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game in 25 years. Pitino and the streaking Red Storm seem likely to receive a No. 2 seed Sunday.

“We still have a lot to prove. We’re not done,” Ejiofor said.

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