“Wasn’t immediately trying to find someone to replace LeBron James”: Hoops analyst defends Paige Bueckers over comparisons with Caitlin Clark
Star players usually garner comparisons to other stars due to the impact they have in their sport. However, some of them get unfair examples like Paige Bueckers has with Caitlin Clark. That has drawn some support from one basketball analyst.
In a video on her YouTube channel on Monday, Rachel DeMita broke down the marquee matchup between two of women's college basketball's top stars in USC's JuJu Watkins and Bueckers. Another topic she brought up was the comparison between Bueckers and Clark, which she disagreed with due to how different they are as players.
"I've always thought that that was absolutely an unfair comparison for her," DeMita said. "If you think of when LeBron (James) went to the NBA, the media wasn't immediately trying to find someone to replace LeBron, and that's what it feels like.
"WNBA media, women's college basketball media is trying to do with Caitlin Clark, and we've went over the reasons as to why. But what I don't think it does, I don't think it sets up these other women properly.
"Like, I don't think we're focusing on the right things when it comes to Paige's game. Her game is not like Caitlin Clark; it's not the same style. They don't truly play the same position. I almost think that Paige might be better coming off the ball."
Rachel DeMita sees Paige Bueckers deferring to Sarah Strong as a concern
A benefit that No. 7 huskies" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">UConn (10-2) has had this season is seeing the rise of freshman Sarah Strong. However, Rachel DeMita sees Paige Bueckers relying on her teammate more frequently than she expected, believing it to be a concern.
"It almost feels as if sometimes, she's taking a backseat to their freshman Sarah Strong," DeMita said (Timestamp: 5:03). "There is a sort of aggression and just confidence in herself (Strong) that she has. She is OK, even being at UConn as a freshman, one of the powerhouses in women's basketball. Sarah Strong is already ready to try to take over games. She already has that mentality.
"I wish that Paige had more of that mentality because there is nobody on UConn who is more skilled than Paige. There truly isn't even when we talk about Sarah."
Bueckers and Strong have repped the Huskies as their dynamic duo on offense, nearly scoring half of the team's points per game. UConn is averaging 80.1 points on 50.9% shooting, including 36.1% from beyond the arc.
As the leading scorer, Bueckers provides 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 on shooting splits of 56.3% overall and 41.7% from downtown. On the other hand, Strong puts up 17.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg.
Paige Bueckers and UConn will have one more game to close out 2024, hosting Providence at the XL Center on Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m. ET.