Geno Auriemma gives Azzi Fudd update as UConn takes more hits

Azzi Fudd remains sidelined for No. 8 UConn women’s basketball heading into Wednesday’s game against No. 21 Creighton, but coach Geno Auriemma provided a positive update on the star sophomore.

Fudd injured her right knee in a loss to Notre Dame on Dec. 4, and she was expected to miss three to six weeks, the Huskies announced at the time. She will have her knee tested Thursday when the team returns from its road trip, which should provide an updated timeline for her return.

“Depending on what happens there, then she can get out on the court and do some functional stuff, what looks like playing, feels like playing, and then we can go from there,” Auriemma said Tuesday. “But she’s made great progress and she looks great. I think we just want to be sure that everything’s in good order. So that’s going to happen on Thursday and then we’ll take it from there.”

Auriemma himself will be back with the team for the road game at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday. He missed the previous two contests while recovering from illness.

But the Huskies will play without Aubrey Griffin, who tested positive for COVID-19 over the holiday break and did not travel with the team to Omaha. She could miss Saturday’s contest against Marquette as well.

Another player, Amari DeBerry, had her travel disrupted by an ice storm, but the Huskies are hoping she will arrive in time to join the team against the Bluejays.

These represent just the latest blows for the already depleted Huskies. Fudd, who leads the team with 20.6 points per game, remains out, and Paige Bueckers is sidelined for the entire season while she recovers from an ACL tear. Dorka Juhász and Nika Mühl had been sidelined as well, though both returned to the lineup against Florida State.