Vic Schaefer was worried.
Texas was headed into a marquee matchup with UConn earlier this month, and the Longhorns coach wondered if he should put junior point guard Rori Harmon on Huskies’ All-American Paige Bueckers. Schaefer knew Harmon, the reigning Big 12 defensive player of the year, was up to the challenge.
But for a chance to beat UConn for the first time in program history, Schaefer thought the Longhorns would need Harmon to produce at the other end of the floor, and he didn’t want her worn out from the defensive effort from matching up with the 2021 national player of the year.
Harmon not only welcomed the opportunity but shined, putting on a masterclass performance in Texas’ 80-68 victory Dec. 3 with 27 points and 13 assists in 39 minutes, the first player in at least 25 seasons to record 25 points and 10 assists against UConn. Her offensive impact plus her work on defense, where she limited Bueckers to 13 points, prompted Huskies coach Geno Auriemma to deem Harmon…
