Watch: UConn star Paige Bueckers sweats it out with intense offseason practice ahead of Huskies' 2024-25 campaign

UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers recently shared that being mentally victorious each day was the hardest part of her journey. Bueckers is training hard for the season ahead and added that she has deep confidence in God's plan for her.

After enjoying her off-season in travels, visiting friends, and attending the games, Bueckers was back to business. With a razor-sharp focus, Bueckers returns to her final year of college eligibility. In a video uploaded on social media, Bueckers can be seen toiling hard in practice.

"And so the mental like block is the hardest part to get past. So I have extreme confidence in the path that God has for me," she said in the video.

The clip also features trainer Chris Brickley working out with the UConn star. A day earlier, Brickley uploaded pictures of top names from the basketball he had trained with and included the clip of Bueckers too.

The departure of top college basketball stars like Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese has brought much attention to stars like Bueckers, JuJu Watkins and Flau'jae Johnson. Besides attention, however, the departure of Nika Muhl and Aaliyah Edwards has also brought a lot of responsibility on Paige's shoulders.

Paige Bueckers recognized that she would be treading a tough track in her last year at college. However, she shared that coach Geno Auriemma's guidance brought much respite (via ESPN.com):

"Definitely having two leaders like that go and me having to carry a heavy load, I'll rely on the junior class now, Aubrey of course," Beuckers said.

"It'll be hard. It'll be a challenge, but at the same time, I've learned so much from them, from Coach, on how to be a great leader. And I just want to continue to be better at that. And so whatever challenges that presents, I want to embrace that," she added.

Geno Auriemma's advice for Paige Bueckers

After the UConn Huskies' loss to Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four contest of 2024 March Madness, coach Geno Auriemma wanted Paige Bueckers to be more selfish.

Bueckers had seven consecutive 20-point games before the Final Four loss but scored just 17 points in her last game of 2024 March Madness. Auriemma shared how Bueckers needed to be a bit different (via ESPN.com):

"This is a great learning experience for Paige," Auriemma said. "Paige is a patient person who waits, and I think she is going to learn, or has begun to learn, that there is no waiting at this time of the year. It's you make it happen yourself. And you have to be more selfish."

Auriemma praised Bueckers's team spirit but suggested that she needed to trim the selflessness a bit on the court.

"I know she wants to be the greatest teammate of all time, but I think those days are over and she needs to assert herself more. And normally she does – you look at all those NCAA tournament games," he added.

Paige Bueckers has won various awards in her career despite injuries stalling her growth. She was named Naismith Colege Player of the Year in 2021 and AP Player of the Year in 2021. With her trust in God, Auriemma's guidance and her basketball IQ, fans can expect Bueckers to have an explosive final season.

Do you think the UConn Huskies, under Paige Bueckers' leadership, can win the NCAA title next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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