Cue the Fireworks: UConn Dismantles Boston University
Opening night jitters? Not a chance. UConn obliterated Boston University 86-32 in their season opener, setting the tone for what could be a frightening season for anyone unlucky enough to face them. At the center of it all was Paige Bueckers, the Huskies’ star guard and lightning rod for online hot takes. While her stat line (13 points, 7 assists, 5 steals, and a block in just 24 minutes) screamed efficiency, social media was quick to remind her that “efficiency” and “Caitlin Clark-level dominance” are two very different things.
Head coach Geno Auriemma, ever the master of dry wit, had nothing but praise for Bueckers. “When she’s on the floor, we look like the team everyone hates to play against,” he quipped post-game. “Now we just need to be that team with all our lineups, not just when Paige is running the show.”
Yet, the applause from her coach didn’t quite drown out the jeers from the internet’s peanut gallery.
Social Media: Where Hot Takes Never Cool Down
As the final buzzer sounded, fans flooded to social media like moths to a flame—or in this case, trolls to a comment section.
“13 points? Caitlin Clark scores that in her sleep,” sneered one user, who presumably moonlights as a college basketball stat historian. “FYI, Clark hasn’t scored under 20 since dinosaurs roamed the earth.”
Another chimed in with, “She’s half as productive as Clark,” ignoring that Bueckers was playing the basketball equivalent of cruise control in a game where UConn led by 50 at the half.
For those keeping score at home, Caitlin Clark remains the NCAA’s patron saint of scoring, averaging a godlike 31.6 points per game last season. So, naturally, any mortal-level performance from Bueckers is seen as a personal affront to the sport.
But not everyone was piling on. One fan came to Bueckers’ defense, writing, “She didn’t need to drop 30. The Terriers were already buried at halftime. Save the fireworks for a closer game.”
Another pointed out her impressive efficiency: 55.6% from the field, a perfect 100% from the free-throw line, and—let’s not forget—zero turnovers. “You can’t turn the ball over if you barely break a sweat,” they joked.
Can We All Chill for a Minute?
Lost in the Paige vs. Caitlin debate was the fact that UConn’s entire squad looked terrifying. Four players hit double digits, with Sarah Strong leading the way offensively, and the bench contributed a cool 38 points. The Huskies didn’t just beat Boston University; they dismantled them, buried them, and left them questioning their life choices.
The second quarter saw Bueckers continue playing through a whistle, casually tossing in a bucket like she was at a Sunday pickup game. “Focus level: 1000,” one fan tweeted with a laughing emoji. Her intensity, even in a blowout, is exactly what makes her special—even if she’s not single-handedly dropping 40 every night.
The Bottom Line
Look, Paige Bueckers doesn’t need to drop 30+ every game to prove her worth. As one fan eloquently put it: “Everyone knows she can score.” The Huskies didn’t need her to go full superhero mode last night, and that’s what makes them scary. UConn is stacked, and Bueckers is the orchestrator of a well-oiled basketball machine.
But sure, let’s keep debating whether she’s as good as Caitlin Clark. After all, what’s college basketball without a little drama?
Stay tuned—because when these two titans eventually clash, the internet just might implode.
