How Liam McNeeley’s Injury Could Reshape UConn’s Rotation

Who will step up in the talented Freshman's absence?

Injury updates in college basketball often come with an air of uncertainty, and more often than not, they’re only sent out when the news is bad. That doesn’t necessarily mean Liam McNeeley’s situation will follow the same script, but it’s hard not to brace yourself when you’ve seen it happen so many times before. Honestly, I think he’ll miss 1 to 3 games max—just a short stretch to recover—and in the meantime, it’s going to be fascinating to see how the team adjusts. Will someone step up and surprise us? Will the rotations feel seamless or shaky? Either way, it’s one of those moments where you learn a lot about what this team is really made of.

But as Coach Dan Hurley always reminds us, injuries can create opportunities for others to shine. Instead of relying on just one player to fill the gap, it could be a team effort that sees multiple players stepping up. This is a chance for our depth to really show itself and for some of the guys to take on bigger roles. Who’s Ready to Step Up?

Jayden Ross and Jaylin Stewart:

These two young wings are stepping into the spotlight. Ross and Stewart have both shown they can score and play athletic defense, but they need to find that consistency. Stewart has had some standout moments, and with more court time, he might just become a dependable scoring option. Meanwhile, Ross brings some much-needed defensive versatility to replace McNeeley’s contributions on that end.

Tarris Reed:

The St.Louis native has been a revelation at times and frustrating at others. Dan Hurley yanked him faster than I’ve ever seen him pull a player in the game against Depaul after he reverted back to some of the unneeded reverse layup-whirling dervish mentality he had at Michigan. Tarris is an ultra-talent. He had 7 rebounds in only 14 minutes of play against Depaul. We need to see the “vicious bear,” as Dan Hurley called him, after the Xavier game. If that version of Tarris shows up, he’s a main candidate to replace Liam’s points and rebounding production.

Aidan Mahaney:

I know, at this point, people are down on Aidan, but quietly in a sub role, playing limited minutes, he’s been a lot better offensively. His Defense still needs work, but so does the entire team; they currently sit at 95th in KenPom. That being said, Aidan is a 1000-point college scorer. Make sure you take a look at the clip below if you notice he does this against Andre Jackson and Scores OVER Donovan Clingan, TWO ELITE defenders. The kid has it in him, and you can see in this clip why Dan Hurley and Co. thought they were getting a kid who could take it to the rack. And Aidan didn’t forget how to play basketball; sometimes we’re spoiled by the Cam Spencers and Tristen Newtons of the world, who make us forget that this all takes time. I think Aidan is going to surprise a lot of folks in this stretch of the season.

Ahmad Nowell:

The freshman guard has been working through a shoulder injury but seems to be on the mend. If he’s back to form, he could inject some energy off the bench, especially as a ball handler. His ability to distribute the ball and push the pace would complement our starting guards nicely, particularly in fast-break situations.

Adjusting the Rotation

So, what can we expect from Coach Hurley’s strategy moving forward? I think we'll see a mix of lineup experimentation and adjustments tailored to each opponent. With McNeeley's absence, we might lean more on a “next man up” mentality, giving different players the chance to earn those extra minutes. This could foster some healthy competition and development within the group.

Offensively, someone needs to pick up McNeeley’s scoring load for a bit. That’s where our veterans—like Hassan Diarra, Alex Karaban, and Samson Johnson—come into play. They’ll need to step it up, guide the younger players, and keep the team focused as they navigate this stretch without him.

Facing Challenges Ahead

Even though McNeeley wasn’t the best on-ball defender, his size and court awareness were crucial. He may not have had elite lateral quickness, but his attention to detail and knack for anticipating plays were invaluable. We’re going to need a solid team effort on defense to cover for him, particularly in disrupting passes and providing help when needed. This is a collective challenge, and all our players will need to pull together to fill that gap on the perimeter.

A silver lining from the DePaul game was Solo Ball’s breakout performance. He had his best game yet with 22 points and six rebounds while hitting 7-of-9 from three-point range. If he can carry that confidence forward, maybe he’ll take on more responsibility—and perhaps even some ball-handling duties. While he isn’t a traditional point guard, his improved decision-making and scoring could lighten the load for Diarra and Mahaney.

Embracing the Opportunity

As UConn heads into a tough stretch in Big East play with matchups against Villanova and Creighton, let’s hope they tap into their creativity and resilience. If the team can rise to the occasion, both defensively and offensively, they might not just survive without McNeeley but actually come out stronger.

Losing Liam is undoubtedly a setback, but it also opens the door for others to step up and prove their worth. Whether it's one player having a standout game or a whole group rallying together, it’s an exciting opportunity for the Huskies to show just what they’re capable of. This isn’t just about getting through this tough patch—it’s about thriving and growing as a team. Let's see what happens, and remember it could be as short of a stint as 1 game. But wanted to put something together to embrace this team if they were without their talented freshman for a longer stretch.