Solo's Replacement - Paul McNeil

[UCONNFAN179]

Man, this dude, Mullins, and Khamenia in the same lineup (at least some of the time). How do you defend that?

You simply pressure the 3 point line.

 

[Inyatkin]

I get that some people don't like "positionless basketball," but you can go way too far in the other direction. If this guy came, he and Mullins could and would be fine together, as would McNeil and Solo the year after. Most 3s are not Stanley Robinson, and there are plenty of three-guard lineups with great success, regardless of what someone says about Michigan changing the game forever

 

[gsmooth]

85% of his 3 point makes were assisted. Catch and shoot. And off screens is a type of catch and shoot... it just refers to not dribbling before pulling.

I should've been more specific about his 3s and said spot up, running off screens, and off the dribble and how many times he dribbles before he shoots, etc. For Jordan Hawkins at the college level he could shoot off the dribble as long as long as it was after he received the pass and it was between 1-3 dribbles.

 

[Kemba15]

so you think Braylon would be the 3 and Ross comes off the bench? That would be my preference for sure, but telling ross to come off the bench as a senior might be a tough ask. He's already returning so he's bought in one way or another.

Ross was going to come off the bench if Solo played this year. I think the better way to look at it is not so much who is starting game 1 but making sure we can replace Solo's offense.

 

[dennismenace]

Have not heard anything about being $$ constrained. I think Hurley is judicious, but not cheap.

He has forewarned everyone what is coming out of Storrs this fall. That's pretty exciting to me. Who knows what he has up his sleeve.
It will be fun to have our secret Santa lists lined up with the final product. Don't forget the other big. This guy is an immediate replacement for the loss of Solo next year. I am really liking Dan Hurley playing it close to the vest like Doc Holiday. Next year is going to be wild.
He is going to outdo last years OOC.

 

[Deepster]

Let me translate. We don’t have a backup pg on the roster. Isn’t that a bigger need? Others like county, Ross or sims can slide to the 2.

You give people a gold bar and they complain how heavy it is.....

 

[Conndog]

The only thing about this guy is most of his game seems outside the basket area or in the 3 zone- so we still need a tall banger for down low action and rebounding. Who will that be? Can’t wait to see who Hurley chooses.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

Classic Boneyard.

He dropped 47 in a game this year.
"Don't we need a PG?"

You give people a gold bar and they complain how heavy it is.....

It’s NJ Husky! Would you expect anything less?

 

[superjohn]

I get that some people don't like "positionless basketball," but you can go way too far in the other direction. If this guy came, he and Mullins could and would be fine together, as would McNeil and Solo the year after. Most 3s are not Stanley Robinson, and there are plenty of three-guard lineups with great success, regardless of what someone says about Michigan changing the game forever

The roster as of right now we either need to go bigger or be more potent scoring the ball. I trust Hurley and staff will get the right players and one of them will be a starter. I really hope this one is true and we get this kid.

 

[ec33]

Let me translate. We don’t have a backup pg on the roster. Isn’t that a bigger need? Others like county, Ross or sims can slide to the 2.

We just lost the starting SG. I think replacing the starting SG is likely the larger need than the backup PG (and nothing about adding a starting SG precludes also getting a backup PG).

 

[dennismenace]

If this has already been posted my apologies:

MSN

 

[husky429]

McNeil and Ball are both SGs, Mullins leaving is assumed, but only one can start. Would McNeil be OK being a backup for two years?

Stop thinking of 2/3/4. They're all wings. What matters is size for defense.

 

[Hoophound]

If this has already been posted my apologies:

MSN

That’s some competition but this kid should want to play in our offense. He will crush it.

 

[ctbro1999]

Hurley does a good job of keeping things quiet. Nobody knew Nik was even on UConn‘s radar until he was spotted on campus at lunch with Dan.

And probably why he looked pissed off in the photo that was posted. Lol

 

[Donyell 360]

We desperately need another scorer. Right now we will be relying on 3 guys in Ross, Khamenia, and Hines to all double or potentially triple their per game averages. That is alot to ask imo.

I am counting on Mullins to increase his scoring. If those guys increase their scoring numbers even a little that would be helpful. Don't think we need them to double or triple their scoring. Another shooter would be nice but I would rather have someone who can create their own offense. Who do we have who can do that?

 

[ctbro1999]

Seems like a kid who would want to start if not this year then next. If he started this year as SG, moves Mullins back to SF, Nik back to PF, and Ross back to 6th man. If he's off the bench, we stay the way we are, but cuts into County's backup minutes since he would probably play 15-20 min. Either could work, but I am still nervous about shutting out County.

What I don't get is how this would affect the year after with Ball coming back. Unless he transfers again, that would move/keep him as backup SG, would he want that? And if he did stay as primary backup, we might kiss County goodbye.

I do trust in Hurley, but I really thought a backup 4 and/or 5 was what was needed.

If he cares about winning more than anything else, I think he'd be fine even if he came off the bench if he was getting ~20 mpg.

 

[QDOG5]

Our coach has won two nattys, gave the champion their toughest game and came in second the last 4 years. I think he knows his way around roster construction.

 

[djct1999]

My younger brother's best friend is a manager on the NC State teams and apparently Paul McNeil is highly likely to be UConn bound. He had wanted to play for Hurley but there didn't seem to be enough minutes to go around. The Solo news yesterday was a back breaker, but it sounds like it helped in the McNeil sweepstakes. He's got three schools left, but UConn is top of the pack at the moment. Sounds like he plans on deciding by the end of the week.

If you are right, I promise to like every post you write moving forward.

 

[RuffRuff]

Our coach has won two nattys, gave the champion their toughest game and came in second the last 4 years. I think he knows his way around roster construction.

Yup yet everyone here trying to telepathically tell him what he needs.

 

[dennismenace]

That’s some competition but this kid should want to play in our offense. He will crush it.

Agree. Also the competition is going after a lot of others so he is not a lock at least.

MSN

 

[Cman]

Great shooter on high volume. Aside from the performance vs TX Southern, scored 26 vs UVA in the ACC quarters. ACC all-academic performer too. A little one-dimensional? Sure. But I would take a one-dimensional high-volume 43% 3pt shooter in a heartbeat!

Was under the impression though that he was deciding between UNC and Kentucky.

Kinda like Joey California. Spark plug three.

 

[Dove]

I loved him on those 90s Yankees teams. Hard-nosed guy

 

[Ricker]

The OP qualified his info by saying "highly likely". North Carolina with a roster in trouble could end up significantly overpaying to get a commitment so I think @BillG gets credit for excellent info if we are ultimately reported as being involved as a final landing spot.

 

[6in25]

If you are right, I promise to like every post you write moving forward.

And what if he's wrong???

 

[noelle]

seems like a great fit. also seen reports of a bidding war.

 

[Jaydumo20]

I get it, but that was the pitch to a guy like Reibe. It's hard to be patient when you have teams flashing big $ in your face right now. I would expect McNeil is a 6th man if he were to commit and would start next season should he stick around.

This is interesting.
My guess is that he didnt try too hard to keep Reibe. If he were high on him I think he'd still be here.
Compare the way Dan talks about Ross to the way he talked about Reibe and it's easy to see why Ross is still here and E is not.

 

[UC1995]

Would love this but it is going to cost!

 

[NJHusky]

I would assume he takes Solo's spot as the starting 2 guard

That is Braylon’s now

 

[Iluvsuebird]

I was going to post that the best baseball play I’ve ever seen was from him. Paul McNeil misplayed an outfield single, and if he tried to pick it up, the runner would’ve advanced so instead from deep right field, he kicked it to the second base on the fly.

Ok can’t take it anymore. The Yankee outfielder is Paul O’Neill. Different last name.

 

[Bigbrad1029]

I’d rather spend on Diop or Thiam as 5 / stretch 4… we have enough shooters in Mullins Khamenia Demary Ross and Landrew…We need a big physical frontcourt and pairing one of Diop or Thiam with Hines would be game over