STORRS, Conn. (AP) — I’ve constantly been a fan of March Madness.

Developing up I try to remember watching UConn personal it. Certain, I try to remember Stewie (Breanna Stewart) winning 4 in a row, but my 1st memory was when Stefanie Dolson helped the Huskies win. She was my favored UConn player expanding up.

Quick forward to the final handful of years exactly where I’ve truly got to knowledge playing in it myself. It could not have been the norm with my 1st year becoming in the San Antonio bubble since of COVID and final season I was coming back from injury, but it really is an awesome feeling to play on the game’s largest stage.

You perform so really hard as a competitor to play in this and win at the finish of the season.

As a lot of of you know this year I am out recovering from a torn ACL injury that I suffered more than the summer time. I’ve been functioning really hard more than the final six-to-seven months on rehabbing. There is nevertheless a methods to go, but each and every day I am acquiring powerful and healthier. I’ve been in a position to do extra basketball drills in the course of practice, but nevertheless am a bit way from make contact with.

I’ve trusted my faith and know that God does every thing for a explanation and that is helped me by means of this. Even even though I can not play I’ve located other methods to aid the group. You never see specific items when you happen to be playing and I’ve broken items down on the bench providing ideas right here and there. I’d rather be “Player P” than “Coach P” but now I do what I can to aid us win.

I discovered final year never ever take something for granted when I went down with an injury and was fortunate adequate to come back and play in my hometown of Minneapolis for the Final 4.

The season is extended and grueling and some men and women get tired and I remind them that they are blessed to play basketball and play right here at UConn.

I also know that I can nevertheless be a constructive function model for youngsters whilst I am not playing. I try to remember when I was young attempting to get Maya Moore or Lindsay Whalen’s signature and how unique that produced me really feel. Anytime I am at games, I take a handful of minutes and take selfies with men and women and sign autographs.

I can also be a function model in other methods. My injury is sadly also prevalent in women’s basketball and there are a lot of other folks who have gone by means of it. It really is a extended method and I hope my recovery can aid inspire other folks to retain their faith and continue to perform really hard to get back healthier.

Of course we have one particular target in thoughts and that is winning a championship, but associate head coach Chris Dailey does a excellent job of assisting us have exciting, also.

The other evening we had dinner at Coach’s (Geno Auriemma’s) restaurant and played a mystery game with a pajama celebration theme exactly where we had to figure out who the “Riddler” was. Everybody on the group was assigned a function and coach was on the side not playing, but stirring the pot attempting to distract everybody.

There is no doubt that Amari (DeBerry) and Aaliyah (Edwards) had been the most committed to their roles and costumes.

Of course Azzi (Fudd) was the culprit we had to guess. It was a exciting evening.

CD puts these items with each other to aid us get out of our apartments exactly where we invest most of the day watching basketball. Of course that is half the exciting of March Madness — watching all the games. We’re in particular excited to watch our men’s group play.

Till subsequent time, go Huskies!

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UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers is checking in periodically in the course of the NCAA Tournament. She’s nevertheless recovering from an ACL injury.

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AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-best-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25