Braylon Mullins is more than a big shot. He's been UConn's missing piece

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Braylon Mullins is more than a big shot. He's been UConn's missing piece

Braylon Mullins is more than a big shot. He's been UConn's missing piece

John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK · USA TODAY Sports

Fri, Apr 3, 2026 ·

4 min read

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Braylon Mullins hadn't hit a 3-pointer in the first 39 minutes and 59 seconds of Connecticut's Elite Eight game against Duke before Alex Karaban passed the ball to him for the eventual 40-foot game-winning shot with under a second left.

It's a shot that represented more than a punched ticket to the Final Four in Indianapolis .

"It's like a dream come true, dream scenario, made-for-TV movie or — I guess it goes right to streaming now," UConn coach Dan Hurley said.

Indiana's Mr. Basketball from last season sent his team back to his home state to compete for a third national championship ring in the past four years.

REQUIRED READING: Braylon Mullins watched his shot 'countless' times, but Final Four is UConn freshman's focus

"You play for those moments," Mullins said after the game . "You dream about that. … That's a one-of-a-kind experience."

UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) hits a go-ahead three-point basket late in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

Braylon Mullins #24 of the UConn Huskies celebrates after shooting the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after shooting the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

UConn Huskies guard Malachi Smith (0) celebrates with UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) after a game-winning three-point basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) celebrates after making the game-winning three-point basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

The UConn Huskies huddle up against the Duke Blue Devils prior to an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Amber Searls, Imagn Images)

Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) passes the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Amber Searls, Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) goes to the basket against Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21)in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Amber Searls, Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) shoots over Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

Silas Demary Jr. #2 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) and UConn Huskies forward Jayden Ross (23) celebrate after a play against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Amber Searls, Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) scores against Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) and is fouled in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Amber Searls, Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley celebrates after a play against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Solo Ball #1 of the UConn Huskies dribbles against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts after a shot clock violation against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
(Amber Searls, Imagn Images)

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies looks on against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Solo Ball #1 of the UConn Huskies drives to the rim during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies drives to the hoop against Patrick Ngongba #21 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies dunks against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Jayden Ross #23 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies reacts after shooting a three point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies shoots a three point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Braylon Mullins #24 of the UConn Huskies celebrates after shooting a three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

It was also a moment that depicted one of the roles the Greenfield, Indiana native has grown into for Hurley's program this year: reliable and exuberantly confident shooter in key moments.

"This is kind of what I've dreamed of, and this is the position that I wanted to put myself in coming out of high school," Mullins told USA TODAY Sports in Philadelphia ahead of the Men's NCAA Tournament.

On a team of veterans like Karaban, Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. , Mullins plays with an edge when he's making shots, something that was missing from UConn's roster last year. It's what has led to gaining the trust and respect from his teammates to not back down from challenging shot attempts.

"It's just kind of what the game gives you," Mullins said. "I know that I'm going to be put in spots that coach Hurley wants me to be put in and I'm going to shoot what is given to me. I know all my teammates want me to shoot those shots."

He backs up this edge and swagger with his stats: 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. He became the first Big East freshman since Marquette's Markus Howard to knock down 50 made 3-pointers in the regular season.

"Once he's hitting (shots), it just opens up everything else for us," Karaban told USA TODAY Sports. "He's been doing it since the summer, so (I'm) never really going to tell him to turn down a shot."

The Huskies freshman is an impactful piece of the puzzle for much more than his shooting.

REQUIRED READING: UConn vs Illinois prediction, analysis, Final Four expert picks for men's March Madness

He's able to impact the game defensively with steals and blocks, and then offensively with mid-range shots and playmaking. Pair that with his 3-point shooting, and its recipe for winning basketball. A recent example is UConn's first round win vs. Furman when he overcame a bad shooting night with six assists, three steals and two rebounds.

Mullins' ability to impact the game in multiple ways has gained Hurley's respect.

"You don't get far in this tournament unless your freshmen can do that," Hurley said of Mullins' growth in the tournament ahead of the Elite Eight. "He's a three-way player. He's out on the glass. He's a critical threat on offense, but he's also like an underrated defensive player with a maturity about him where, if he goes through stretches of the game where he's not getting shots, not making shots, he keeps playing winning basketball."

The season hasn't come without its ups and down for the freshman, though. But his maturity and composure help him provide the missing puzzle piece, too.

"(He's) special. Super special," Karaban said of Mullins. "His maturity as a freshman, his composure, the way he carries himself, you don't really typically see it as a freshman. Especially someone who was a McDonald's All American.

"He's not asking people for shots. He's not asking for the ball. He just wants to do whatever the team wants, whatever the team needs to win."

So if it is a key shot (or multiple) down the stretch or impacting the game defensively, Mullins will now look to finish putting the puzzle of a third national title celebration in the past four years together with his teammates in front of the hometown crowd over the next few days.

The first step to that comes Saturday against No. 3 Illinois in the Final Four.

"It's unbelievable to be in the position I am," Mullins said.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braylon Mullins serving as UConn's missing piece in Final Four run

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Braylon Mullins is more than a big shot. He's been UConn's missing piece

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke

Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke