Liam McNeeley Shooting

[REB1094]

He's the primary (and one of the only) guys that can just take the ball and get a bucket. It's a low efficiency role, especially for a freshman. Remember that Tristen Newton shot 41.5% and 32% from three last year in that role

I generally don't have an issue with McNeeley's shots. Him shooting a low percentage shot is a better shot than anyone else trying to make something out of nothing (which is the main issue of our offense, Liam is forced to do too much). I think he tries to get to the FT line too much. All year he's opted to barrel to the rim and hope for a whistle, which especially doesn't work against Ryan Kalkbrenner. A big part of his development will be to be able to take that short floater. Maybe the whistle will be different in the NCAAT but takes a lot of tough shots through contact

I also think he's a little gassed. He's played 30+ minutes pretty much every game after a month off for injury

 

[UC0NN]

Tristen took a lot of good quality shots that missed. LM takes a lot of good outside shots. His issue is more about getting in the lane and taking really low % shots.

 

[JohnFSilver]

While we can acknowledge the occasional ill-advised shot, there isn't a shot he took in the Big East tourney that I would say is beyond his skill level. That 6-20 could easily have been 16-20 if he got some calls at the hoop or finished the open shot, and he made open shots. Every shot he took on Friday was one he could make and was probably a look they would take again.

He's going to be a really good NBA player. He is a handful off the dribble and can gets anywhere he wants on the floor. It is just finishing the shot through contact.

 

[BFieldHusky]

He's the primary (and one of the only) guys that can just take the ball and get a bucket. It's a low efficiency role, especially for a freshman. Remember that Tristen Newton shot 41.5% and 32% from three last year in that role

I generally don't have an issue with McNeeley's shots. Him shooting a low percentage shot is a better shot than anyone else trying to make something out of nothing (which is the main issue of our offense, Liam is forced to do too much). I think he tries to get to the FT line too much. All year he's opted to barrel to the rim and hope for a whistle, which especially doesn't work against Ryan Kalkbrenner. A big part of his development will be to be able to take that short floater. Maybe the whistle will be different in the NCAAT but takes a lot of tough shots through contact

I also think he's a little gassed. He's played 30+ minutes pretty much every game after a month off for injury

The team looked gassed on Friday night. If you are looking for a silver lining from Friday, it is that a few days off may have been just as important as improving our seed line.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

We’re a one man team. If Liam scored 30 we win. If he doesn’t we don’t. It’s that simple.

It’s actually not that simple at all. We have two other high-end shooters in solo and Alex. But beyond that, playing non-biggie conference teams is going to open things up for us. At least offensively. The question for this team is can they play defense for 40 more than once? If the answer is yes, we can make a run if the answer is no we probably will make it past the first weekend.

 

[UconnU]

We’re force feeding him. Last year we forced nothing.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I will say, seeing him still projected as a backend lottery guy has heavily perplexed me.

If you buy the shooting is better than 33% long term, I can understand a late first round projection. But usually shooters need to hit shots to get that label going into a draft.

I’ll be curious to see what draft analysts like Vecenie say about his role in the NBA and where his draft range actually ends up. I don’t expect him to come back unless the consensus is there’s a chance he’ll fall out of the first round, but I’m not convinced it wouldn’t be the best move for his career at this point, since he could be a for sure lottery pick with better numbers next year.

 

[Kitaman]

I've got to get out of the City. The OP's topic means something else around here.

 

[Burnt Corn]

Liam is fine.

You're making too much of it because right now he's driving and getting clipped a lot with no calls.

Let's get into the NCAA tourney. Those are high percentage shots. He's not taking bad shots. And he's one of the few UConn players who can actually drive to the basket

Liam is fine.

You're making too much of it because right now he's driving and getting clipped a lot with no calls.

Let's get into the NCAA tourney. Those are high percentage shots. He's not taking bad shots. And he's one of the few UConn players who can actually drive to the basket.

Love the guy and agree about his ability to get to the hoop but if you don’t think it’s a problem you’re not paying attention. In his last 3 games against the best teams in the BE (StJ, Marquette and Creighton) he was12/51 including 3/20 from 3. His shots against Creighton were not close to high %. The were mostly out of control runners against a 7 footer. Hopefully he gets more calls in the tourney but an occasional pull up or pass wouldn’t be out of order.

 

[Stinger92860]

Interesting topic.


Honestly never looked at Liam's stats until reading this thread but his percentages are pretty low.

His overall FG% is a tad under 40% and 3pt.% is right around 33%.

For somebody touted as a great shooter those values don't correspond.


However, on this team (way too often) Liam is tasked to be the shot creator, and frequently gets the ball with the shot clock dwindling.

His shot mechanics are spot on, it's just the shot selection and degree of difficulty in shots is weighing down his percentages.


On a better formulated team, Liam would be much more efficient.

He has been missing open threes since his return Regularly.

 

[jibsey]

He has had to go to the rim because no one else could when we have been covered at the 3 line. Who else is there to drive?

 

[jdb50]

Liam could work on his midrange shot like Luis has. It does not have to be 3 or drive into the crowd only. That should be his off season focus.

 

[UC0NN]

LM has the full pedigree. 5 star best shooter in high school, premier program.

If you took that all away and just evaluated him based on this year, he's a late first round pick or early 2nd round. No question he has the talent to be a lottery pick. But he hasn't earned that right on the court. He's earned that from his reputation.

 

[Husky68]

With HD and Samson Johnson in, that leaves only 3 guys looking to shoot in the starting lineup. AK is best as catch and shoot (and passes ball out of his hands most often very quickly without putting his defender in danger) and SB's role is to hunt his 3's (which the other team is aware of). That leaves a pretty heavy load for LM as the biggest driving threat, volume 3 point shooter and guarding most athletic big wing.

Hurley wanted/needed AH in starting lineup to give a Cam/Tristen type offensive set up with LM but hasn't worked out. LM seems a bit stiffer and more awkward than earlier in season, tough season for him physically as freshman and think has impacted his offense and defense.

Team in total has not shot the ball as well as expected/needed but offensive is #14 on Kenpom (must be Samson Johnson and TR @ crazy shooting %'s).

Need LM to shoot per advertised to make some noise in a 6 game elimination tournament, can grit out Oklahoma but need all guns firing if get to Florida.

Don't know why I keep thinking AM is going to turn it up, keep seeing him as skilled like the point guards for Purdue and Creighton but so far that has only been in my mind and not on the court.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

HuskyWarriar611 I thought put it perfectly. He stated that Liam is trying to play hero ball too much in the name of "wanting to win so badly" instead of making the right pass and involving his teammates which he was doing earlier in the season. I agree with those statements because I am seeing the same thing. If he has the hot hand, okay hero ball it is and make the proper pass off the defense reacting, but otherwise don't revert to hero ball too much.

The hope is that someone could guide him to see this behavior and direct them to make proper decisions.

Maybe this is happening and he’s just not listening and which case the bench would be a good teacher.

 

[UC0NN]

When you start the game 2-9, stop shooting. It's that simple.

 

[coachn]

His defense cost us the Creighton game as he got touched by Neil..
His defense has lagged due to poor offense (shooting) during slump, mind set..
Overall game needs rehab.. coaches and team mates?

 

[Ewekon]

I will say, seeing him still projected as a backend lottery guy has heavily perplexed me.

If you buy the shooting is better than 33% long term, I can understand a late first round projection. But usually shooters need to hit shots to get that label going into a draft.

I’ll be curious to see what draft analysts like Vecenie say about his role in the NBA and where his draft range actually ends up. I don’t expect him to come back unless the consensus is there’s a chance he’ll fall out of the first round, but I’m not convinced it wouldn’t be the best move for his career at this point, since he could be a for sure lottery pick with better numbers next year.

He's a stud college player next year collecting WTV the NIL is. All BEast and probably then some, IMHO.

IDK the math; but say #16 pick this year vs. NIL $ and upgrade (maybe) to lottery in '26? Not too dissimilar to J Hawk's Soph decision.

I can embrace the NIL from an empathetic point vis a vis the players. As a fan, not so much. Overlay NIL with portal and we've yet to see that mess come to fruition.

 

[UC0NN]

LM based on name and pedigree gets drafted 15+/-.

LM based on actual performance gets drafted 25+/-.

Guaranteed to play in the G league all year in 2026. Or take the NIL and be a top 10 pick.

 

[BGesus4]

LM based on name and pedigree gets drafted 15+/-.

LM based on actual performance gets drafted 25+/-.

Guaranteed to play in the G league all year in 2026. Or take the NIL and be a top 10 pick.

Pedigree matters and if I had to guess Liam’s I’d say golden doodle

 

[housekeys]

I wonder what Liam’s ankle status is. 100%, 50%? Seems unsteady at times.

You may have a point. I recall his defense and rebounding was a lot better prior to the injury. But I could be wrong.