Liam got some swagger! | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Liam got some swagger!

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.
 
superjohn said:
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.
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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.
 
Deepster said:
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.
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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
 
August_West said:
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.
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Interesting thought but I doubt anyone school we have enough nil $
 
Drame said:
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
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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
 
.-.
Zonepress said:
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
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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.
 
Zonepress said:
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
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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.”

www.zagsblog.com

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

By ADAM ZAGORIA Some 45 NBA scouts […]
www.zagsblog.com
 
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.
 
djct1999 said:
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.
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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!
 
Deepster said:
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.
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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.
 
Even when Karaban returns, the genie is out of the bottle. Liam becomes even more central to the attack. His upside is huge!
 
.-.
HailUConn said:
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.

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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.
 
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!

 
.-.
NJHusky said:
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.
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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.
 
One quibble--when Liam drives to the rim, he seems to give up on his shot as he is fouled.
NBA players tend to muscle through the foul and complete the layup--I think of Bird and Jordan.
When Liam doesn't get the call, he turns astonished to the ref, and comes away with nothing.
But I love that he is driving more.
 
Scoe said:
McNeeley reminds me a bit of Larry Bird.
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On one play - the 3 ball late- that's what I was thinking but then I came to my senses. He is a good ballplayer and a keeper for sure but Larry was just Larry. Watching some of Flagg's highlights from the other night though ...
 
Another article with analysis of McNeeley's pro potential after watching the Baylor game. This is just a small part of the write up on him.

What scouts have now seen is exactly what we had been saying about McNeeley in high school. While he's known for his shooting, he's a far more versatile scoring threat than he gets credit for. In fact, he was able to put more pressure on the rim yesterday than any other UConn player.

www.cbssports.com

2025 NBA Draft prospects on display: Scouts saw two games in 48 hours loaded with players with pro potential

How UConn's Liam McNeeley, BYU's Egor Demin and more NBA Draft hopefuls looked in two key games this week
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com
 
I think he was challenged and told that he needed to step up and put this team on his back. I think he excepted the challenge. Very well could have been a pivotal moment in his career. Nice job kid.
 
.-.
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