The UConn Huskies have regrouped and are on the rise again, ranked in the top 15 nationally. But the Huskies’ last victory over DePaul was costly, as projected 2025 NBA Lottery Pick Liam McNeeley suffered an ankle injury and will miss some time. Who are the Huskies who need to step up with McNeely out?
After finishing last at the Maui Invitational at the end of November, UConn (11-3) has run off seven straight wins. But the Huskies won’t have McNeeley, a top draft prospect, when they host Providence (7-7) on Sunday after he injured his right ankle. McNeeley got injured when he collided with DePaul guard Layden Blocker while going for the ball on a deflected pass.
McNeeley underwent an MRI on Thursday , and according to an updated report, the 19-year-old forward is out for the game against the Friars. After coach Dan Hurley said that he was hopeful that McNeeley wouldn’t miss much time, he revealed that the injury was much more serious than originally thought.
“Not days, it’s gonna be weeks for him . Hopefully, if things go great … he’ll see maybe some of January, maybe the end of January, but it’ll be weeks, not days.
He’s gonna go back in the pool and he’s gonna do his work in the pool.”
How Long Will Projected NBA Lottery Pick Be Out, and How Do The UConn Huskies Replace Him?
McNeeley, the consensus No. 10 recruit in 2024, is a sharpshooting freshman wing starting to find his way in the college game. While McNeely struggled with his floor game against Providence, he has scored in double-figures 11 times this season, including 20 points twice in his past nine appearances. He has made 11 of his last 26 (42.3%) 3-point attempts.
McNeeley averages 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 14 contests. He has produced two double-doubles and averages 1.8 treys a game with shooting splits of 42.9/37.9/85.
While UConn struggled at the Maui Invitational, the Huskies are ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll and No. 13 in the coaches poll. They are also 13th in the NET rankings, with a 6-3 record in Quad I and II contests.
UConn is very talented, but it is relatively young, with two seniors and five upperclassmen. The Huskies returned only 37.5% of their scoring from a season ago. Still, the Huskies are 3-0 in Big East play. They are also among the favorites to win a second consecutive Big East championship and a third straight national title.
Liam McNeeley NBA Prospects
McNeeley is projected to go between No. 10 and 15 in the upcoming 2025 draft. However, it is not guaranteed that McNeeley will leave Storrs (CT) after this year. Here is what Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman recently said about McNeeley’s NBA prospects.
“Limited athleticism, creativity and defensive tools may keep teams from seeing star-level upside with Liam McNeeley. They’ll all detect a high floor and easy fit in a 6’7”, proven shooter, high-IQ passer and clear competitor.
Teams should be able to picture McNeeley sliding right into an off-ball role that values his quick three-point release in transition, range, movement curling around screens or handoffs and low turnover rate.
But he’s also been efficient in ball-screen situations, attacking back-pedaling bigs or playing point-forward.”
Four UConn Huskies Who Need To Step Up With McNeely Out
Based on Hurley’s press conference, McNeeley will miss at least the Huskies’ next six games. The earliest McNeeley realistically could return is January 29 at home against DePaul or February 1 at Marquette.
UConn’s success this year is due to its offensive prowess. Junior forward Alex Karaban , who has missed two games this year, leads four Huskies in double figures.
The Huskies, third in the nation in offensive rating, are an excellent shooting team. The Huskies are also an exceptional passing team that doesn’t turn the ball over. Additionally, they are a fantastic rebounding squad on both ends.
However, UConn is only 144th in the country in defensive rating. The Huskies top the nation in blocks per game with 6.8.
The Huskies’ biggest issues are defending the perimeter, fouling, and not forcing turnovers. While the Huskies are holding their opponents to 43.1% shooting from the field, their opponents are shooting 38.1% from deep and attempting nearly 24 free throws a contest.
UConn should be okay with McNeeley for a short period. But the Huskies will need people to step up. Here are a few such Huskies.
“It’s an opportunity for the entire roster,” Hurley said. “Liam was doing more for his team than almost any other freshman in the country. What we were asking from him was (be a) two-way player, second-leading rebounder, a creator with a high usage rate, clutch shot-maker, closer in the second half of games. He had established himself as one of the better freshmen and one of the best players in our league. So it’s a chance for Jaylin Stewart , it’s a chance for Jayden Ross , it’s a chance for Aidan Mahaney , it’s a chance for every other player just to play better. It’s a chance for us to defend and rebound better and win that way.”
Tarris Reed Jr.
Tarris Reed Jr ., a consensus top 40 2022 recruit, is in his first season with UConn after transferring from Michigan. The 6-10 junior forward is an extremely talented two-way player who has been highly efficient off the bench.
Reed has posted a Big East-best five double-doubles and is shooting 67.8% from the field. He averages 10.9 points, 8.9 boards, and 1.6 blocks in 21.1 minutes a game.
Reed is certainly capable of big games. He has scored in double figures eight times and topped the 20-point mark twice. However, he needs to be more consistent or aggressive.
Reed tallied 20 points in UConn’s Big East opener against Xavier, his lone start of the season. But he has combined for 11 points versus Butler and DePaul.
Jaylin Stewart
Jaylin Stewart, the No. 65 consensus 2023 recruit, has made offensive strides in year two. He has improved as a shooter, scorer, rebounder, and distributor. But he still needs to improve from deep, and fouling remains an issue.
Stewart averages 5.0 points on 52% shooting and 2.5 boards in 14.5 minutes. The athletic 6-7 forward has scored in double-figures in three of the seven games he has seen at least 16 minutes of playing time. He has scored at least 16 points and grabbed five rebounds versus Memphis and Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Jayden Ross
Ross, the consensus No. 73 recruit in 2023, has also shown improvement after not seeing much time as a freshman. The 6-7 athletic forward is known for his defense and versatility.
While Ross has developed his offensive game and become a better passer, he does need to improve his shot selection. Sixty percent of Ross’ shots are coming from the 3-point line despite connecting on 21.2% of the attempts.
Ross averages 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds. and 1.3 assists a game. He registered a double-double versus UMES and tallied 14 points against New Hampshire in the season opener.
Aiden Mahaney
Mahaney is a 6-3 guard known for his shooting ability. However, the St. Mary’s (Calif.) transfer has not seen much playing time in his first season with the Huskies. He has struggled from deep and defensively this year, though he has improved as a facilitator.
Mahaney averages 4.6 points and 1.8 assists with 36.9/33.3/75 in 13.9 minutes a game. Mahaney scored in double-figures just twice this season. But he has played well the last two seasons, totaling 14 points on 6 of 12 (50%), including 1 of 4 (25%) from deep, and five assists compared to one turnover.
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