UConn’s Bueckers suffered fracture, may miss up to 2 months

Paige Bueckers of UConn has a fracture just below her left knee and will be out for up to two months, according to the school.

With under 40 seconds left in Sunday’s 73-54 victory over Notre Dame, last season’s women’s college basketball player of the year was dribbling up the court when she faltered and fell awkwardly. She had to be escorted from the courtroom.

An MRI and CT scan revealed she had a tibial plateau fracture, which is a break in the tibia bone that extends into the knee joint, according to the school. It is expected to take between six and eight weeks to recuperate.

UConn coach Geno Aureimma stated that Bueckers’ return to the court will not be rushed.

“We’ve had players get hurt in the past, and my mentality here is that I’m not interested in how quickly we can bring someone back; I’m concerned in what’s best for them in the long run,” he explained. “Every decision will be made with Paige and her career in mind. Everyone that is a part of this program will be there to help Paige through her recovery.”

Bueckers leads No. 3 UConn with 21.2 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game.

The femur, or thigh bone, crashes into the spongy top of the tibia, a bone in the lower leg, as a result of an acute halt, according to Dr. Michael Miranda, the director of orthopedic trauma at Hartford Hospital, who is not treating Bueckers.

“It becomes pinched, much like Styrofoam,” he explained, “and that’s the impaction damage she suffers.”

In 2016, skier Lindsey Vonn experienced a similar injury. According to Miranda, such injuries usually do not necessitate surgery and heal very fast with proper rehabilitation.

“It sounds dreadful, but she’s actually in luck because the recovery from this bone damage is far faster than the recovery from an ACL (tear),” he said. “You never want to see an athlete injured in any manner, but an ACL tear vs a tibial plateau impaction injury is a lot better injury.”

On Thursday, the Huskies (5-1) go to Georgia Tech. Azzi Fudd, a freshman, is also absent. Last year’s consensus top recruit is recovering from a stress injury to her right foot and will be out for at least two weeks.