Paige Bueckers wasn’t supposed to be the story tonight in Spokane. As the Gonzaga Bulldogs took on the Colorado State Rams, tucked in the crowd was Bueckers, rocking a Bulldogs jersey. For a player who has become synonymous with UConn’s identity over the last few years, one courtside outfit was enough to send the entire basketball world into speculation.

There was a simple reason for her presence. Bueckers was visiting Gonzaga to see her former UConn teammate and close friend, Ines Bettencourt, who later spoke about her appearance today. “She’s one of my best friends, and it’s not every day that she goes to watch somebody play, especially in Spokane… It’s just great to have her out here, you know, another connection to UConn, her getting to know the team, just her personality matching so well with the people… It’s just great to have her here, like, support and just extra person close to family.”

Bueckers also appeared on Gonzaga Women’s Basketball’s social media, where she was photographed with Bettencourt, engaging with the Bulldogs’ roster and coaching staff. The friendship between Bettencourt and Bueckers began in 2022, when Bueckers sustained an ACL tear. Seeking guard depth, the Huskies extended a scholarship offer to Portugal native Bettencourt.

When Bettencourt transferred to Gonzaga in 2024, Bueckers publicly expressed her support for her former teammate by sharing Bettencourt’s announcement on her Instagram story with the caption: “New Zag fan.”

Bettencourt isn’t the only connection to Gonzaga for Paige Bueckers, who is also close friends with former Bulldogs and current NBA stars Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren.

Back in March, during the NCAA tournament, she had spoken to the media, saying, “Yeah, I remember Jalen playing there as a freshman. It was during COVID, so he didn’t get to play in that arena with the experience of having the student section… I know he killed it in front of the cardboard fans.”

About Chet, she said, “And Chet was there, I think it was the next year after that, and he got that experience.”

Bueckers even indirectly acknowledged Bettencourt back then, saying, “I have a lot of friends in the Gonzaga pipeline, and it’s really cool to just be there, experience that, and see how much they’ve meant to that program.”

UConn’s Defensive Dominance Masks Offensive Red Flags

While Paige Bueckers was watching the Bulldogs, Geno Auriemma didn’t sound like a coach who watched his team win by 54 points after UConn drubbed Loyola (85-31).

Despite the Huskies being ranked No. 1 in ESPN‘s power rankings, he cited the team’s reliance on defense as a key aspect of its issues.

“I’m not exactly thrilled with where we are offensively right now,” he said, noting how “so much of our offense is coming from our defense.” He added, “I don’t know that’s something you’re gonna be able to count on every night. Getting 25 steals against people.”

Loyola Chicago briefly challenged them with a three-pointer just 14 seconds into the third quarter, but a dominant 26-0 run quickly extinguished any momentum. However, Coach Auriemma’s post-game critiques revealed how the blowout victory concealed a night filled with defensive and offensive breakdowns.

Azzi Fudd committed three early turnovers while struggling to make proper reads, including an errant pass to Serah Williams in the paint while Williams had her back turned. Sarah Strong salvaged the possession by recovering the misplaced pass.

Auriemma added, “Sometimes that comes from trying to do five things at once… everybody’s in a hurry to score, everybody’s in a hurry to make a crazy pass… and nothing looks good.”

For Auriemma, effort isn’t the problem, it’s an imbalance. “It’s hard to play with that kind of intensity on defense… and then all of a sudden cross half court and go, ‘Alright, now dial it down a little bit.’”

Loyola turned the ball over 36 times, inflating UConn’s shooting and disguising stretches where the offense looked completely disengaged.

The Huskies might be 3-0 to start, but offensive discipline needs to catch up to the suffocating defense if they want to avoid getting dethroned.