Dan Hurley lauds "next wave" UConn youth like Liam McNeeley and Solo Ball: "Go out there and let it fly"

The UConn Huskies are coming off a huge 76-72 win over the Baylor Bears earlier on Wednesday, Dec. 4. As UConn is basking in this victory and their previous blowout of Maryland Eastern Shore, it's looking more and more like the winning ways of the Huskies are returning.

Despite their notable alumni moving on, this is a positive sign for head coach Dan Hurley who has been receiving backlash recently for his antics. Moving on to the next generation of Huskies, Hurley is calling them on to be great during the post-game conference.

"I'm talking to these guys to announce themselves. I loved what Solo and Aidan did in the first half. They buried huge threes to get us back in that thing. Liam McNeeley, you're one of the best freshmen in the country. Just go out there and let it fly. Play with some swagger and confidence," Hurley expressed in detail to his next wave UConn standouts. (8:30)

The three players he mentioned—Liam McNeeley, Solo Ball, and Aidan Mahaney—are all in their first, second, and third year of college ball, respectively, and are taking on bigger roles for the team after the likes of Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle have moved on to the NBA.

They'll have nothing to worry about, however, as Hurley has their backs all the way through and would want them to just play their game.

"This is like the next wave of UConn players. It's just like, 'Yo, guys, go out there and hoop and let it fly.' Go make big shots and big plays. Go in a big game. Announce yourself that our season has started here at UConn," Hurley added on to address his players. (9:05)

UConn's last two wins have come after the team suffered a rare three-game losing streak beforehand, ultimately losing out on the 2024 Maui Invitational. Now back in the win column, Hurley and company can start turning their season around towards the direction of a potential third-straight NCAA National title.

Generating a 6-3 record early in their 2024-2025 campaign, the UConn Huskies will duke it out next against the Texas Longhorns on Sunday, Dec. 9, as conference play is steadily approaching.

How has the new batch of UConn Huskies fared this season?

It's been clear since the start of the season that a major chunk of the UConn Huskies' future rests on the shoulder of first-year stalwart Liam McNeeley. Through his first nine games of his collegiate career, McNeeley is averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists a game—solid numbers so far for the 19-year old.

Supplementing McNeeley is the rise of sophomore guard Solo Ball, who has had a huge leap in his second stint as a Huskie. Ball is currently posting up 12.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per contest, showcasing his big improvements from a lowly 3.3 point average a year ago.

With standouts like McNeeley and Ball on the rise to bring UConn continued success, Hurley will have to ensure that his new batch of Huskies can deliver when the lights are at its brightest in conference play and beyond.