Liam got some swagger!

[Palatine]

Liam seems to have the I.Q. to improve over the course of season. His inside game is just beginning to blossom. I also suspect his assist numbers will improve.

 

[uh-no]

I agree - I think the momentum changed when he started forcing contact in the lane and getting to the line.

absolutely. and if he keeps that up, it'll help keep space for karaban.

 

[superjohn]

I’m gonna say it.

I think he needs to take more charge and be our floor leader this year. I think he’s an alphas alpha and exudes that confidence. I love Alex and he’s one of my all time favorite Huskies but it’s just not in his DNA to be the guy.

Alex quietly leads but we're going to need more from him as a player and leader than he's shown so far this season. His stats are really good but he was a bit of a ghost when things were going poorly in Maui and that can't happen.

We should have a major advantage over everyone we play at the wing this season with Liam and Alex.

 

[UCan3]

Alex quietly leads but we're going to need more from him as a player and leader than he's shown so far this season. His stats are really good but he was a bit of a ghost when things were going poorly in Maui and that can't happen.

We should have a major advantage over everyone we play at the wing this season with Liam and Alex.

I agree. Alex needs to find how he can best support the team in his new role. I will say his coaching from the bench was awesome! On the floor he needs to be the leader as well.

This is a much different team than last year. We need to outwork other teams. Stewart, Reed, Aidan and Johnson did this last night - they were the engine that kept the lead. Loved what I saw last night.

Solo is the one player where i was like ”kid you got to get with the program.” We are not a finesse team - we are a blue collar team - and time to punch in and scrap!

 

[Drame]

Love this kid, too bad we won't have him as a Soph. Truly one of the best freshman to put on a Husky uniform. I felt like he was our go to guy in Karaban's absence.

I think we may keep him for another year. Possibly. This is a stacked draft class. He may go low first round. He needs to know down 3s at a better clip to make up for the athleticism.. Dont agree with the mocks that have him at 10. And if we dont go far in the turney that will affect him.

 

[WiseWillie]

By year end if he continues on the same trajectory he will probably be of the mindset to move up but staying on at least for another year could yield long-term benefits under Hurley's unique tutelage in refining some areas of his game - but from a fan's tunnel perspective also to take up AK's leadership role when he departs for the NBA.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Alex quietly leads but we're going to need more from him as a player and leader than he's shown so far this season. His stats are really good but he was a bit of a ghost when things were going poorly in Maui and that can't happen.

We should have a major advantage over everyone we play at the wing this season with Liam and Alex.

I think he's adjusting to a role where he regularly got open looks from great ball movement and a lot of attention on Newton, Spencer and others (Hawkins before that) to a new role where he's the guy people are trying to take away. He's going to have to run around and move more. He can't be a target shooter now. He has to work harder for open looks and maybe create them for others when they collapse on him.

Even last night, during rough stretches I was screaming "move" as our guys stood still while they hounded Diarra, who turned it over. Later as we built a lead we saw some of the old motion coming back.

 

[GoConn]

This kid is awesome. He is our best player.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I’m gonna say it.

I think he needs to take more charge and be our floor leader this year. I think he’s an alphas alpha and exudes that confidence. I love Alex and he’s one of my all time favorite Huskies but it’s just not in his DNA to be the guy.

Alex is great and there is a certain type of leadership he provides that the team needs.

But I agree, he is more in the Sanogo mold of leadership while this team desperately needs a Ajax/Killer Cam type. If Liam can do it as a freshman that would be amazing

 

[Zonepress]

Robert O. Wright was fantastic last night for Baylor too. 22 and 4 assists. Kid is a jet. Then you had Cooper with a huge (usual) Cooper game filling every line of the stat sheet 22pts ,11Reb ,4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks - ridiculous) taking down the best team in the country last night. Oh and Derrick Queen went for 17 and 11 in a win against Ohio state. The Monteverde kids, ALL OF THEM, are appointment viewing for me. Got to see those 4 last night flipping around channels, they never disappoint . Only Newell didnt play last night. On Tuesday he had 20 and 11 for Georgia burying another ACC team.

A fun thought wouldve been to take those 5 and keep them together as a college team this year and fill it out with some portal players. They would be a ranked team for sure. The pieces fit too.

Interesting thought but I doubt anyone school we have enough nil $

 

[Zonepress]

I think we may keep him for another year. Possibly. This is a stacked draft class. He may go low first round. He needs to know down 3s at a better clip to make up for the athleticism.. Dont agree with the mocks that have him at 10. And if we dont go far in the turney that will affect

Mock drafts, have him going somewhere between 10 and 20 so in any scenario he’s going in the first round
Don’t understand the comment about athleticism
He’s very strong jumps well and has lateral quickness. Thats not great. It’s OK.
Three point shooting is good
Basketball IQ is excellent
Like most players going to the NBA their defense
Needs work
How far of the team goes in the tournament would not have a negative impact on He is viewed by The NBA
He has been on their radar for a number of years(playing with a Cooper Flagg for two years certainly helped)
Only an injury, or a complete collapse in his play would keep him from being drafted in the first round

 

[HuskyHawk]

Mock drafts, have him going somewhere between 10 and 20 so in any scenario he’s going in the first round
Don’t understand the comment about athleticism
He’s very strong jumps well and has lateral quickness. Thats not great. It’s OK.
Three point shooting is good
Basketball IQ is excellent
Like most players going to the NBA their defense
Needs work
How far of the team goes in the tournament would not have a negative impact on He is viewed by The NBA
He has been on their radar for a number of years(playing with a Cooper Flagg for two years certainly helped)
Only an injury, or a complete collapse in his play would keep him from being drafted in the first round

Just like Castle before him, Hurley is getting him to focus on what the NBA really cares about. Everyone knows he can shoot. He has the right size for a wing. Can he defend? Can he rebound and battle inside? Can he put it on the floor and attack the basket through contact? Can he create for others?

Those things are the difference between Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser.

 

[HooperScooper]

Mock drafts, have him going somewhere between 10 and 20 so in any scenario he’s going in the first round
Don’t understand the comment about athleticism
He’s very strong jumps well and has lateral quickness. Thats not great. It’s OK.
Three point shooting is good
Basketball IQ is excellent
Like most players going to the NBA their defense
Needs work
How far of the team goes in the tournament would not have a negative impact on He is viewed by The NBA
He has been on their radar for a number of years(playing with a Cooper Flagg for two years certainly helped)
Only an injury, or a complete collapse in his play would keep him from being drafted in the first round

I agree that it doesn't seem he'll be here for a 2nd year.

It's amusing that Zagoria always has the ability to write a new article based off one new quote and then the rest of the article is recycled stuff.

“He’s a bucket,” said one NBA scout. “Sees the game. Very heady. A bit limited in overall physical attributes. Pretty good player.”

UConn's Liam McNeeley impressing NBA scouts: 'He's a bucket' | Zagsblog

By ADAM ZAGORIA Some 45 NBA scouts […]

www.zagsblog.com

 

[cp176]

Everybody wanted Flagg and it would have been a major bb win for his Maine fan base for sure but when McNeeley chose UCONN I was beyond excited. All eyes were on Flagg but Liam was a major as in major player for that Monteverde team as well.

 

[mauconnfan]

It’s simple…..Liam has the total package. Kid is a stud.

Guess you have to be to play on the Montverde team last year. Take a look, Liam isn’t the only one.

Wright was pretty damn good and basically an unknown in a way in comparison to Liam and Flagg. You are right as there are more!

 

[NJHusky]

I’m gonna say it.

I think he needs to take more charge and be our floor leader this year. I think he’s an alphas alpha and exudes that confidence. I love Alex and he’s one of my all time favorite Huskies but it’s just not in his DNA to be the guy.

Bingo....Alex has been great...but as a piece of the puzzle...not the go to guy. His brilliance is magnified when he is with great players...as he facilitates exceptionally well. He's simply not an iso guy. Liam has a better dribble and is quicker imo...and they are about the same size. With AK out, Liam had the chance to shine. If AK was playing, I don't think Liam ever takes control.

 

[tennmike]

Even when Karaban returns, the genie is out of the bottle. Liam becomes even more central to the attack. His upside is huge!

 

[Scoe]

McNeeley reminds me a bit of Larry Bird.

 

[HailUConn]

McNeeley reminds me a bit of Larry Bird.

Well, Indiana pedigree is there...

 

[TheChamps990411]

Don’t expect him to shy away from big moments! I love the confidence he exudes when he speaks about this team. In some ways, his confidence level as a freshman reminds me of our last year’s freshman phenom Castle - quiet.

Liam attacking the basket and being aggressive overall on offense gave me flashbacks of Adam Morrison. Thats who he reminds me of except hes a better shooter, rebounder and more athletic. IT sucks he`ll only be here one season.

 

[TheChamps990411]

McNeeley reminds me a bit of Larry Bird.

Adam Morrison.

 

[Kolumbo]

Liam - 36 minutes for a 210 lb freshman against a speedy Baylor squad is also very impressive

31 min vs Memphis
32 min vs Colorado
29 min vs Dayton
36 min vs Baylor

Liam and Alex can compete to see who gets the most of these: a kiss!

 

[Zonepress]

Well, Indiana pedigree is there...

Except he’s from
Texas

 

[superjohn]

Bingo....Alex has been great...but as a piece of the puzzle...not the go to guy. His brilliance is magnified when he is with great players...as he facilitates exceptionally well. He's simply not an iso guy. Liam has a better dribble and is quicker imo...and they are about the same size. With AK out, Liam had the chance to shine. If AK was playing, I don't think Liam ever takes control.

Alex is so great, the perfect team player but he's a connector. He's not an alpha dog personality wise and his game is a complimentary game. We need him to be a little more than that and maybe let a freshman McNeeley take over some more.

 

[uconnbill]

the best overall player on the team, already. I think he is the key to the overall season success and how far they go