The Connecticut Huskies have had a season full of ups and downs, but they’ll have a chance to start their postseason on a high note when they face the Villanova Wildcats in the Big East tournament on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Coming off back-to-back national championships, head coach Dan Hurley was asked during a “60 Minutes” interview if the Huskies had a shot at a three-peat. His response? “Yeah, I think there’s a path to it.”
While the team is focused on Villanova and postseason play, the Huskies and Big East announced some exciting news on Wednesday about freshman sensation Liam McNeeley. McNeeley was named the Big East Freshman of the Year, marking UConn’s second consecutive year with a freshman winning the honor, as Stephon Castle claimed it last year.
While there have been several standout freshmen across the NCAA this season, many have been overshadowed by Duke star Cooper Flagg, who has earned much of the attention for his consistent and remarkable play with the No. 1 ranked Blue Devils.
Liam McNeeley is YOUR @BIGEASTMBB Freshman of the Year pic.twitter.com/xZOBVXd5Yp — UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 12, 2025
However, McNeeley has been right up there among the best and is likely to be a lottery pick if he chooses to enter the NBA draft after the season.
Entering Big East tournament play, McNeeley is averaging 32.0 minutes, 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.5 steals. He’s shooting 39.5% from the field, 34.7% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 86.4% from the free-throw line.
Despite battling a brief injury that sidelined him in the middle of the season, he’s appeared in 23 of UConn’s 31 games this year.
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