High ankle sprain for Liam

[HooperScooper]

I called it in the chat when he returned in a boot. You boot for high ankle sprain. JS and JR are going to get a chance to step up. Maybe more PT for AN.

Karaban sprained his ankle last season, was in a boot, and missed just 1 game. The boot doesn't tell you anything about the severity of an ankle injury.

 

[HooperScooper]

Mike Anthony on it.

“When we do get him back healthy at the end of the month, into February, this could be a blessing for us,” Hurley said. “But it's only a blessing if you can find a way to win enough games while he's out. Because now you're developing people, developing your bench, but you do have to win enough games where you're not kind of a little bit beaten up. When he gets back healthy, he's going to be in a position to — obviously you have to knock the rust off for a game or two, potentially — but he'll be returning to a stronger team than the team that he left. As long as we're able to continue to win in his absence.”

https://www.nhregister.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/liam-mcneeley-dan-hurley-big-east-uconn-huskies-20013674.php

Alternate access:

Could Liam McNeeley's January absence make UConn better in March? 'It just makes the team stronger'​

 

[Chief00]

McNeeley and Diarra are key players in starting our offense, without one it hurts.
Two bench guys Chief sees a lot of potential in is Stewart and Abraham but I don’t think this will open up very many minutes fir them. Mahaney, if used as a shooting or combo guard could help.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Mike Anthony on it.

“When we do get him back healthy at the end of the month, into February, this could be a blessing for us,” Hurley said. “But it's only a blessing if you can find a way to win enough games while he's out. Because now you're developing people, developing your bench, but you do have to win enough games where you're not kind of a little bit beaten up. When he gets back healthy, he's going to be in a position to — obviously you have to knock the rust off for a game or two, potentially — but he'll be returning to a stronger team than the team that he left. As long as we're able to continue to win in his absence.”

https://www.nhregister.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/liam-mcneeley-dan-hurley-big-east-uconn-huskies-20013674.php

Alternate access:

Could Liam McNeeley's January absence make UConn better in March? 'It just makes the team stronger'​

Spot on analysis. It CAN be a good thing but won’t be if we can’t win in his absence. Not sure why some people are out here denying that.

 

[Dove]

I called it in the chat when he returned in a boot. You boot for high ankle sprain. JS and JR are going to get a chance to step up. Maybe more PT for AN.

Congrats. Great call !!

 

[Scottobot]

If he’s fully healthy in 6 weeks, it has some decent silver linings in terms of others getting reps.

If he is out 6 weeks not sure this team makes tournament. I hope I am wrong, but bench outside of Reed has not played well this year.

 

[AntG168]

If he is out 6 weeks not sure this team makes tournament. I hope I am wrong, but bench outside of Reed has not played well this year.

We’re a LONG way from not making the tournament. We’re a solid 3 seed at the moment

 

[Hunt for 7]

We’re a LONG way from not making the tournament. We’re a solid 3 seed at the moment

I would expect that not having Liam for a month is not going to change our seeding in fact it will probably improve. I am looking forward to all of our role players stepping up and making us a better team than we were before the McNeeley injury. We are going to have fun watching this team be even better without their best player. I expect we will be a one seed by the time Liam comes back. Expecting anything less would be the way a casual fan thinks.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Spot on analysis. It CAN be a good thing but won’t be if we can’t win in his absence. Not sure why some people are out here denying that.

That is a great question. All I know is we are hoping three players suddenly play better than they have been and we should expect that to happen. Tomorrow is going to be interesting. Trainers knew it was a high ankle sprain right away and that news circulated on the bench quickly. Look at then Samson hug shared by Borges.

 

[HooperScooper]

That is a great question. All I know is we are hoping three players suddenly play better than they have been and we should expect that to happen. Tomorrow is going to be interesting. Trainers knew it was a high ankle sprain right away and that news circulated on the bench quickly. Look at then Samson hug shared by Borges.

Serious question. I haven't sprained my ankle in a very long time, but do people know right after they sprain an ankle that it's a high ankle sprain? Just curious how you can tell without further medical evaluation (e.g. MRI).

 

[ctchamps]

I would expect that not having Liam for a month is not going to change our seeding in fact it will probably improve. I am looking forward to all of our role players stepping up and making us a better team than we were before the McNeeley injury. We are going to have fun watching this team be even better without their best player. I expect we will be a one seed by the time Liam comes back. Expecting anything less would be the way a casual fan thinks.

My expectation is that they will step up. I don’t expect it to be immediately. They were developing but it was in supporting roles. They needed more time in that capacity. Now they will be required to up their play to primary roles.

It would be incredible if they could produce in that role quickly. But I expect bumps over this month. Hope we get as many wins without Liam as possible because the last thing we need is for the sophomores to lose confidence. Hopefully the fans will turn out, support the team and be patient with the process.

 

[storrsroars]

I expect we will be a one seed by the time Liam comes back. Expecting anything less would be the way a casual fan thinks.

OK Mr. Serious Fan, which of Tennessee, Auburn, Iowa St., Duke or Alabama is going backwards in order to hand over a #1 seed to us?

 

[JB75]

You guys really think he’s gonna be out for a month?? that long ? I know high ankle sprains take a while, but geez, that sounds a little extreme- I’m gong to be optimistic and say he’s back by January twenty something

 

[IndyLives]

I'm not surprised. It was a gruesome injury - I thought he might have broken a bone. Big opportunity for some meaningful minutes for Abraham.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Those three words give me pause. I tend to remember a few years back that a UConn wr had a high ankle sprain and it bothered him significantly all season.
Hopefully rehab has improved since then.

 

[dennismenace]

I could not agree more I just went on a little rant in the Hurley press availability thread to a post that said we were all over reacting. From my point of view it is a big deal and I feel badly for Liam most of all, think about it more than likely costs him some auto hardware as BE ROY, I really hope it does not impact draft status. We (or some of us ) also know he just does not come back in four weeks and we go right back to what we were becoming.

This injury changes the whole trajectory of the team we were becoming and now we really won’t know that until mid February and that is if Liam comes back in the projected timeline.

It may have just adjusted the trajectory for this year but possibly also next year as well. Missing that much time plus getting back into game condition will have a significant impact on Liam's potential NBA draft status this year. So instead of potentially a one and done he may wind up in Storrs again next year. No one knows the future but my hope is that all works out well for Liam in the long run. This is a resilient staff and a very deep bench. Trust in Hurley and the staff. When others step up we see what the practices have produced.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

Liam's injury isn't ideal especially as it pertains to winning the BE regular season title but if we are going to win the BE or NCAA Tournament we will need a big leap from at least 2 of Mahaney, Stewart and Ross. Liam's vacated minutes allow the three of them to play to build confidence without looking over their shoulders and by the time Liam returns, there will be actual versus theoretical depth.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

By way of explanation, a high ankle sprain is an injury to the ligament that joins the two lower leg bones, the tibia and fibula, at the level of the ankle. It destabilizes the ankle much more than a lateral ligament sprain (although those can be serious also). Really severe high ankle sprains sometimes require surgery if very unstable.

The big issue is healing time. Lateral sprains can be anywhere from a few days to 3-4 weeks to return. High sprains can be double that, 3-8 weeks, or longer.

Heres hoping it’s not too long.

 

[businesslawyer]

A key player is going to miss a chunk of time. It is what it is. You just have to play your games one at a time and win as many of them as you can.

Starting today. Let’s beat Providence and move on from there.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Serious question. I haven't sprained my ankle in a very long time, but do people know right after they sprain an ankle that it's a high ankle sprain? Just curious how you can tell without further medical evaluation (e.g. MRI).

The pain it is way worse than rolling your ankle in. Have you ever broken a bone? Most people know right away a high ankle sprain feels like you broke your ankle.

Also the way the ankle bends during the injury. A roll is turning your ankle in toward your torso. I high ankle sprain happens when your ankle twists out away your torso.

When you twist/roll it in it hurts but not nearly as much.

But you can’t really tell until an MRI. Arenas don’t have MRI’s, but most have X-ray machines so they knew it was not broken hence his return to the bench. The MRI just confirms the diagnosis and how severe the sprain is then they have an idea of projecting healing time. But I have found that it takes a few weeks to really determine how long it is going to be. At times they don’t heal quickly and then there is a minor procedure that can be performed to stabilize the ligament and promote correct healing.

You saw the look on Liam’s face he knew it was not a traditional ankle sprain and he is a very tough kid. Or at least seems to be one to me.

 

[Hunt for 7]

OK Mr. Serious Fan, which of Tennessee, Auburn, Iowa St., Duke or Alabama is going backwards in order to hand over a #1 seed to us?

It was sarcasm responding to an earlier post. The whole post was a parody on another post.

 

[controlfade]

Maybe Liam needs to get that tight rope surgery so he can be back in 2 weeks. JK

He could be out 4-6 weeks depending on the severity.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

Tough news. High ankle sprains are the worst. Probably looking at mid February to be honest.

 

[IndyLives]

With advancements in AI and medical treatments today, 4 to 6 weeks seems way conservative. This type of injury shouldn't linger more than 2 weeks. It's 2025 for God's Sake!

 

[HooperScooper]

The pain it is way worse than rolling your ankle in. Have you ever broken a bone? Most people know right away a high ankle sprain feels like you broke your ankle.

I broke my leg playing soccer when I was a kid. Right above the ankle. I knew I broke it because my leg bent and I could feel the bend like my leg was made of rubber (like Gumby!). I'll still never forget what that felt like. 8 weeks in a full leg cast.