MILWAUKEE — Freshman Liam McNeeley from UConn is nearing a comeback following a high ankle sprain that has sidelined him for nearly a month.

On Saturday, Huskies coach Dan Hurley mentioned that he anticipates McNeeley will be ready to play in Friday’s matchup against No. 15 St. John’s.

“As long as there are no setbacks, Liam will be at full strength,” Hurley stated after UConn’s 77-69 victory over No. 9 Marquette.

Currently, McNeeley stands as the third-leading scorer for the team with an average of 13.6 points, as well as the second in rebounding with 5.8 boards per game.

His last appearance on the court was on January 1.

The Huskies, with a record of 16-6 and 8-3 in the Big East, have managed to win five out of eight games during his absence.

In a notable recent victory, Solo Ball made a significant impact by scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while the team shot an impressive 59.5% overall, including 12 of 19 from beyond the arc, even with a season-high total of 25 turnovers.

McNeeley is not the only member of the team grappling with injuries.

Ahmad Nowell, a reserve guard, has missed two games due to his own ankle issue.

Meanwhile, Hassan Diarra contributed five points and seven assists in almost 25 minutes of play on Saturday, despite dealing with a leg problem.

Hurley expressed concern, stating, “We can’t afford to have him hobbling around like that.”

The Huskies are optimistic that the time off before the game against St. John’s will allow them to fully recover.

“I think we’re going to come into the next game looking a lot healthier,” Hurley remarked.

As the season progresses, fans and followers are eager to see how the squad will perform once McNeeley and the others return to peak physical condition.