UConn Huskies RELOAD with Aidan Mahaney, Liam McNeeley | Creighton adds a little 'Pop' to lineup

The UConn Huskies made a pair of big moves, securing a commitment from Saint Mary's transfer guard Aidan Mahaney as well as 2024 five-star small forward Liam McNeeley. Danny Hurley's roster looks fairly set as they look to try to three-peat as college basketball national champions, but is Mahaney the kind of guard capable of leading them to a title?
Elsewhere in the Big East, Creighton lost Trey Alexander to the NBA draft but added Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs and Arizona State wing Jamiya Neal. Is it enough to keep them in the top three of the conference? Depends if Ryan Kalkbrenner comes back.
Finally, we close out the show discussing Arizona State, as Bobby Hurley landed the program's highest ever rated recruit in Jayden Quaintance, a former Kentucky commit who heads to Tempe rather than following coach John Calipari to Arkansas. Will this help this program stay competitive as they head into the Big 12?
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[@petekingfish]

No mention of Jaylin Stewart, who is likely to start

[@kevincoyle7634]

Not a big uconn guy

[@danielwebster4569]

That was my takeaway....... also no knowledge of how Hurley will use Mahaney as highly efficient vs 7 3s/game......Mcneeley would be the volume shooter.......clearly

[@alfonzoglecko2186]

Agree, Jaylin Stewart may be really good next year

[@markceccorulli6946]

UConn basketball is about the whole being greater than the sum of the parts, notwithstanding that they have some outstanding talent. I’m sure the coaches recognized that Mahaney is a better fit for the offense than Brea. I expect that he’ll get better shots in this offense. Defensively he might be a liability. We’ll have to wait and see. I recall that a lot of people were underwhelmed when Newton was picked up in the portal. He didn’t turn out too bad. As far as starters, it’s only important in some players minds and Hurley tries to screen those out when recruiting. There should be enough minutes to go around, except perhaps at the forward spot should Karaban come back.

[@anthonyyusef5897]

Stewart is a grown man. Its his time now and he knows it.

[@daveharaske6755]

Or Solomon Ball. There's a tendency from commenters to assume that if there's a portal player, they automatically start. This guy hasn't really researched his subject very well.

[@brunobagofdonuts9304]

A good player becomes a GREAT player with the UCONN coaching staff. People said last year after losing 3 starters they would not be able to repeat ( OOPS ) never doubt the HURLEY. 😎

[@locoman888]

I think Mahaney starts with Solo Ball in backcourt. Then Karaban with Stewart in FC. McNeeley will be sixth man.

[@dblshotz75]

A real Uconn fan. It's crazy how Solo and Stewart aren't mentioned. They are absolute studs.

[@HazzTube]

Sometimes I think that people kind of think that the portal players are more talented than the existing players. Jalyn Stewart is looking to be an awesome player. Sol ball, for the minutes he played, also looked very impressive.

[@alfonzoglecko2186]

And I am not going to worry about mahaney's defense. Defense is more coached in than offense

[@jeromedanielson4422]

In the actions that UConn runs, there are significant times Mahaney will get open looks, more than likely his efficiency numbers will improve. Mahaney's second year at St. Marys required him to make last-second shots when the offense broke down. My biggest concern is whether Mahaney holds up against the physicality in the Big East.

[@jeromedanielson4422]

McNeeley played with Cooper Flagg, and in their last year together many of the offensive sets were run for McNeely what's that tell you?

[@freakboy40]

This is why Dan Hurley is elite. He understands systems and players. He knows there is a world of difference between being Aiden Mahaney the good Freshmen and being Aiden Mahaney at the top of every teams scouting report every game. Those are entire worlds of a difference. Hurley knows Aiden Mahaney is not coming to UCONN to be at the top of the scouting report. He will be about where he was as a freshman at St. Marys in terms of who teams will focus on. Karaban is going to be back and Liam McNeeley is like that. He will probably be the second option. Jaylin or Solo can ball too but I would say they would dump it to Terrence before they even get to them. So Aiden would be about the 5th option at UCONN. He will not even take 5 3's a game. More like 4. His percentage will improve as a result. He will also have much better looks at UCONN. The talent around him is better.

[@kevincoyle7634]

Imagine the difference in quality of shots. Night and day difference between the looks hell get as just a guy at uconn compared to The guy at st marys

[@ppumpkin3282]

So only two thru the portal?

[@ppumpkin3282]

They need more big men up front, and their guards will be smaller.

[@stevestrong5075]

Sangrei may get more time to hes 7ft 1

[@steadylearner1]

Singare? He's not 7 1.