Liam McNeeley Shooting | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Liam McNeeley Shooting

A good Liam needs to include defense. If he guards and is efficient with his scoring then we are a different animal. 7/15 fg, get to the line 5 or 6 times with 8 rebounds. That type of stat line is achievable
 
Ewekon said:
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.
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Seems like there could be a 'bright side' to UConn and Liam's mutual struggles in that he returns to become a top-10 pick.

Right now there is ZERO buzz about him, yet he's still projected as a late lottery selection, 14th here: Bleacher Report: Full 2-round predictions and pro comparisons as NCAA postseason begins .
I'd guess updated mocks may move him into the 20s's, but almost assured that he remains solidly in the first round which to most means go pro.

Is there a scenario where returning to UConn is more lucrative than being in the NBA for 25-26? I've always been in the minority that says a player should dominate in college before moving to the next level. Liam has shown only brief glimpses of that and there is at least an argument now that he could move way up in the draft if he plays a 2nd year for the Huskies.
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
Comparing Liam to Kemba is…A choice.
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NOT comparing them as players. Just looking at the way they get their points. I think Liam could deliver a stat line very much like Kemba's.
 
Dogdeacon said:
I've always been in the minority that says a player should dominate in college before moving to the next level.
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There's a reason you're in the minority on this
 
So much of this shooting thing is psychological, frame of mind. I wonder if UConn has a psych swami to gets their shooter’s relaxed. That’s where being there before could help Alex. Keep McNeeley from getting too amped up.
 
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jibsey said:
So much of this shooting thing is psychological, frame of mind. I wonder if UConn has a psych swami to gets their shooter’s relaxed. That’s where being there before could help Alex. Keep McNeeley from getting too amped up.
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They all meet in Hurley's basement. :)
 
Dogdeacon said:
Seems like there could be a 'bright side' to UConn and Liam's mutual struggles in that he returns to become a top-10 pick.

Right now there is ZERO buzz about him, yet he's still projected as a late lottery selection, 14th here: Bleacher Report: Full 2-round predictions and pro comparisons as NCAA postseason begins .
I'd guess updated mocks may move him into the 20s's, but almost assured that he remains solidly in the first round which to most means go pro.

Is there a scenario where returning to UConn is more lucrative than being in the NBA for 25-26? I've always been in the minority that says a player should dominate in college before moving to the next level. Liam has shown only brief glimpses of that and there is at least an argument now that he could move way up in the draft if he plays a 2nd year for the Huskies.
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There is a 0% chance he returns to school
 
RuffRuff said:
It feels like all the unsuccessful wildness going to the rim is streaming into facets of his game. He’s playing with no control or discipline at all, losing balance, needs to tone it down and pick and choose shots better. Take a pull up 8 footer square vs blindly going to rim with hair on fire.
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I agree. It takes time for a player to really grow mentally into their game. McNeeley is a great player now who would be a lot better in this offense next year. I am not recommending he return, just pointing out that reality.
 
Some of these takes are insane. That’s all I will say for now.
 
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Dogdeacon said:
True. Also true that Donovan Clingan came back, dominated and improved his draft stock and $$.
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DC took a huge risk by coming back. He was talked about being mid 1st round after his freshman year based on potential. Gotta give him credit.
 
gsmooth said:
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.
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Teams collapse on Liam driving off the high pick. The extra pass is wide open.


I think at times Hurley has been in his ear telling him to continue shooting it bc he’s so efficient in practice.
 
Dogdeacon said:
True. Also true that Donovan Clingan came back, dominated and improved his draft stock and $$.
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Clingan had to show the NBA he could reasonably be the guy for the year.

If he left after his freshman year it would’ve been off potential. Him coming back provided more production to go off.

Liam already has that production to show.
 
Right now LM would go into the draft as a "Cooper Flagg Light". A facsimile, a somewhat similar player. Come back next season and dominate and he'll be to the '26 draft what Flagg will be to this one. Needs to come back.
 
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Liam is only a freshman. I mean we had guys develop over 3 years, superstars like Hamilton, Ray, Emeka, Donnell and many more. Imagine what he would be by 3rd year. And we expect him to be this NOW. Of course it won’t happen.
 
jibsey said:
Liam is only a freshman. I mean we had guys develop over 3 years, superstars like Hamilton, Ray, Emeka, Donnell and many more. Imagine what he would be by 3rd year. And we expect him to be this NOW. Of course it won’t happen.
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Donyell? (Sorry. Had to...)
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
It's genuinely too bad McNeeley missed so much time. It's hard not to think he'd be a much more polished player at this point in the season with another 8 BE games under his belt.
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At the time of the injury I thought it was a blessing in disguise as Stewart and Ross would get more PT to improve their game but Liam’s extended absence was costly in so many ways.
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
It's genuinely too bad McNeeley missed so much time. It's hard not to think he'd be a much more polished player at this point in the season with another 8 BE games under his belt.
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This injury was so detrimental to UConn's season because it happened while UConn was on a roll and their cohesion was getting stronger.
 
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Liam has not been the same since he came back from his injury with the exception of the 30pt plus out burst. He's making bad decisions, slow to the hoop, defensive lapses. I wish him the best but he just does not look like a 1 and done now. Hoping he can turn it around in the Florida game. It's a tough match up for him and the team.
 
Husky Alien said:
Liam has not been the same since he came back from his injury with the exception of the 30pt plus out burst. He's making bad decisions, slow to the hoop, defensive lapses. I wish him the best but he just does not look like a 1 and done now. Hoping he can turn it around in the Florida game. It's a tough match up for him and the team.
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He’s a great player with great instincts but he is not very quick. How do you get faster on defense? In fact he and Alex look about the same when they go to the hoop and often get blocked. Alex uses the floater more to combat that and Liam should do that more of that as we’ve seen him do earlier.
All of these judgements on Liam are on a freshman who under normal circumstances would develop and get better with 2 more years that no one says he’s going to have.
If he turns into a very late first rounder then maybe he stays and now he’s mid first, but he’s going to be on the bench or play in the G league quite a bit. Get him a 2 million NIL.
Eric Dixon is 6’ 8” 265 and 24.5 with an NBA body and projected 55th playing 4-5 years in college.
 
TouchdownHusky said:
Right now LM would go into the draft as a "Cooper Flagg Light". A facsimile, a somewhat similar player. Come back next season and dominate and he'll be to the '26 draft what Flagg will be to this one. Needs to come back.
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He is not near the player as Flagg. Flagg has some vertical. He has spin moves. Goes to the rim hard. With intentions. Plays above the rim. Dunks. Defends. LM is not that. Pre injury or after. Not saying LM isn't a pro. But if I'm a NBA GM I'm not taking him early. I'm not bashing LM. But his body of work this year is just OK.
 
Husky Alien said:
Liam has not been the same since he came back from his injury with the exception of the 30pt plus out burst. He's making bad decisions, slow to the hoop, defensive lapses. I wish him the best but he just does not look like a 1 and done now. Hoping he can turn it around in the Florida game. It's a tough match up for him and the team.
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It’s as if that 38 point game outburst changed his approach. Love that he’s more than willing to apply pressure with dribble penetration but it seems like, once he puts the ball on the floor, he’s made up his mind to take it all the way to the hole and defenses are collapsing on him. I don’t know if he’s just becoming too predictable. Maybe more kick outs and after he puts it on the floor would keep defenses more honest and open things up for him and the team.

To me, Liam’s a big reason for optimism tomorrow and going forward. He hasn’t been the same lately but we know his upside is huge. If he plays to his potential, UConn’s offense is as good as any team out there.
 
Kowalski said:
It’s as if that 38 point game outburst changed his approach. Love that he’s more than willing to apply pressure with dribble penetration but it seems like, once he puts the ball on the floor, he’s made up his mind to take it all the way to the hole and defenses are collapsing on him. I don’t know if he’s just becoming too predictable. Maybe more kick outs and after he puts it on the floor would keep defenses more honest and open things up for him and the team.

To me, Liam’s a big reason for optimism tomorrow and going forward. He hasn’t been the same lately but we know his upside is huge. If he plays to his potential, UConn’s offense is as good as any team out there.
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He definitely lacks athleticism that's needed at the next level. He definitely has the moves and a good first step. But his shot has fallen off badly.
 
Let's disect Liam shooting a bit.

Around 1/3 of his shots are decent or better good looks from 3. Liam, keep shooting to good open looks. You are a shooter keep shooting if wide open. I will take my chances.

Around 1/3 of his looks are shots with the clock running down. Since we have very few guys who can create their own shot, it often comes down to this. How do we fix it? Start the offense much sooner.

Around 1/3 of his shots are wild abandonment spin moves into the lane where most of the time lately he cannot finish the shot or get a good clean look. Many times he shoots an airball or a brick, sometimes he gets fouled, and other times he lacks the strength to finish. Often he can't even square up to get a good look because the energy to get in the lane saps his strength. These are predetermined drives resulting in a crapshoot outcome.
 
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