UConn's Braylon Mullins Shifts Focus to Final Four Matchup Against Illinois

After hitting a game-winning shot to send UConn to the Final Four, freshman Braylon Mullins must now turn his attention to the Illini.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant colors depicting the climactic final moments of a basketball game, with players and the court reduced to abstract shapes and planes.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic final moments of the UConn-Duke game, capturing the raw energy and tension of Braylon Mullins' game-winning shot.Indianapolis Today

UConn freshman Braylon Mullins became an instant March Madness legend after hitting a game-winning 3-pointer to defeat Duke and send the Huskies to the Final Four. Mullins, an Indiana native, is now preparing to face Illinois in the semifinal, a team he played against in his college debut earlier this season. While Mullins has been flooded with attention and congratulations, his coach Dan Hurley has emphasized the need to move past the excitement of the Duke win and focus on the task at hand against the Illini.

Why it matters

Mullins' shot against Duke was one of the most memorable in recent NCAA Tournament history, but UConn is not satisfied with just making the Final Four. The Huskies are seeking their third national championship in four years, and Mullins' performance will be crucial against an Illinois team that pushed them in their earlier matchup.

The details

In UConn's win over Duke, Mullins hit a 35-foot game-winning 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to send the Huskies to the Final Four. Mullins was 0-for-4 from 3-point range in the game prior to the final shot. After the win, Mullins received hundreds of congratulatory messages from family, friends, and even celebrities. However, UConn coach Dan Hurley has emphasized the need to move past the excitement and focus on preparing for Illinois, one of the best teams in the country.

  • Mullins scored 2 points in 10 minutes in UConn's win over Illinois on November 28.
  • Mullins hit the game-winning shot against Duke on April 1 to send UConn to the Final Four.
  • UConn will face Illinois in the Final Four semifinal on April 5.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A freshman guard for the UConn Huskies and Indiana Mr. Basketball, Mullins hit the game-winning shot against Duke to send UConn to the Final Four.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies, Hurley has emphasized the need for his team to move past the excitement of the Duke win and focus on preparing for Illinois.

Illinois

The University of Illinois men's basketball team, which faced UConn earlier in the season and is now one of the four teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, after the game, I got 200 or 300 texts (from) family, friends, famous (people). Crazy. It's just all over the place. I think now you've got to move past the highs of that moment. I mean, it wasn't the national championship. And now we've got to focus on Illinois.”

— Braylon Mullins, UConn Freshman

“Listen, it's like a dream come true. A made-for-TV movie, or Netflix, I guess, since we're streaming now. Yeah, we've been shot-coaching since Tuesday. I had to let everyone enjoy it. I couldn't come in on Monday like a cold, wet blanket and just start destroying people. That would've been a cruel thing to do to people's spirits after such an incredible victory.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-Illinois semifinal will advance to the national championship game on April 7.

The takeaway

Braylon Mullins' game-winning shot against Duke has cemented his place in NCAA Tournament history, but the UConn freshman must now shift his focus to the Final Four matchup against Illinois, a team he faced earlier in the season. UConn coach Dan Hurley has emphasized the need for his team to move past the excitement of the Duke win and lock in on preparing for the Illini, one of the best teams remaining in the tournament.