Maintaining a remarkable winning streak last seven matches, there is no doubt that UConn is on fire. Dan Hurley must be proud of his boys for a dominant game with an 81-86 win over the DePaul. The game was going smoothly, but it soon turned into an unfortunate event, when Liam McNeeley had to leave the court in the second half due to an ankle injury. Leaving Dan and the fans in worry.

Later it was reported through CBB Insider, Jon Rothstein, on X, “Dan Hurley said postgame that UConn’s Liam McNeeley (ankle) is unlikely to be out long term, but isn’t likely to play on Sunday against Providence, per a school spokesman.” It sure did provide comfort among the fans and the coach himself to be assured the situation was not serious at the moment.

While the Head Coach’s words did reassure till some point, but kept a room open for significant concern about McNeeley’s present situation for the team preparing for their upcoming Big East game.

Liam has been a key player for UConn this tournament. “Had 9 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes today against DePaul prior injury,” Rothstein had noted in his tweet. His fallback has come as a shortcoming for his team at the moment and can hold significant challenges in the games ahead.

The Huskies led the game from the first half, showcasing their defensive moves by holding the scores for DePaul to just 7-26 in the initial minute. In the second half, it became more intense after Solo Ball scored 12 points on four-threes in the final 3:15 minutes of the first half shooting an advantage of 43-22. Before his departure, McNeeley was instrumental in game play, highlighting his skills and adaptability.

The immediate circulation of an image of Liam’s injury served a lot of tension among the enthusiasts. The entire social media and fan base took over the viral image and got worked up with concerns and support flowing in. But Hurley’s words of reassurance controlled some of the damage. His being away for the next game keeps the air filled with worry.

Liam McNeeley needs a fast recovery: Providence vs DePaul

McNeeley’s absence brings the team to a moment of major challenge as DePaul prepares to take on Providence. The Friars seem to be struggling at the moment with their game and are quite far from meeting an easy opponent. Providence has made it 22 times to the NCAA tournament, which shows their potential to pull off a bad game any given day. Their points per game is 69 on average.

Cardet of Providence is seen in the last few matches to push the scores by dropping a good 6-point, which has a fair chance of improvement. However, Bryce Hopkins’s recent knee injury can act in favor of DePaul, because a few games back Hopkins led a huge victory against BYU, who is also known for both his defensive and offensive game.

Liam’s injury has made it necessary for Solo Ball and Alex to step up their game. Providence maintains an average of 69 points per game, so to keep up their streak UConn has to come up with focused strategies throughout the game.

McNeeley can be a freshman, but his 6 foot 7 forward was crucial for the team, no doubt. DePaul can serve a tough competition by maintaining their average of 69.7 points per game too. Dan is hoping for Liam’s fast recovery, but this is a Big East tournament. You don’t know what coming next.