UConn's Braylon Mullins Reflects on Final Four Trip After Epic Buzzer-Beater

Freshman guard Braylon Mullins discusses his game-winning shot that sent UConn to the national semifinals.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:55pm

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An abstract, neon-colored expressionist painting depicting a basketball player mid-jump shot, with the ball appearing to burst forth from the canvas in a vibrant explosion of color. The player's face and jersey are obscured by the energetic brushstrokes, capturing the raw emotion and intensity of the game-winning moment.Braylon Mullins' last-second heroics have UConn back in the Final Four, fueling the Huskies' quest for a third national championship.Greenfield Today

UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins is speaking out for the first time about his game-winning buzzer-beater that propelled the Huskies to the Final Four. Mullins, a top 2026 NBA Draft prospect, credits head coach Dan Hurley for setting the goal of returning to the national semifinals in Indianapolis from the start of the season.

Why it matters

Mullins' heroics have UConn back in the Final Four for the third time in as many years, as the Huskies look to win their third national championship in that span. The freshman guard's emergence as a clutch performer has also boosted his NBA draft stock ahead of this summer's selection process.

The details

Mullins, a 2025 McDonald's All-American from Greenfield, Indiana, is averaging 11.9 points per game this season and scored 10 points in the Elite Eight win over Duke. His game-winning shot capped a back-and-forth contest that saw the lead change hands multiple times in the final minute.

  • Mullins hit the buzzer-beater in the Elite Eight on April 2, 2026 to send UConn to the Final Four.
  • UConn will face Illinois in the national semifinals on April 5, 2026 in Indianapolis.
  • The national championship game is scheduled for April 7, 2026 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A freshman guard for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team, Mullins is a 2025 McDonald's All-American from Greenfield, Indiana who is averaging 11.9 points per game this season and is considered a top 2026 NBA Draft prospect.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team, Hurley has led the Huskies to the Final Four in three consecutive seasons.

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What they’re saying

“The moment when I stepped foot on campus... Coach Hurley, that was his goal: trying to get me back to Indy.”

— Braylon Mullins, UConn Freshman Guard

What’s next

UConn will face Illinois in the national semifinals on April 5, 2026 in Indianapolis. The winner will advance to the national championship game on April 7, 2026 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The takeaway

Braylon Mullins' game-winning shot to send UConn to the Final Four is the latest highlight in the Huskies' quest for a third national championship in as many years. Mullins' emergence as a clutch performer has also boosted his NBA draft stock, as he looks to lead UConn to the title in Indianapolis.