Mullins’ Buzzer-Beater Sends UConn to Final Four!

Mullins’ Buzzer-Beater Sends UConn to Final Four!

Brayden Mullins is the hero of the hour! His incredible buzzer-beating shot has sent the UConn Huskies to the Final Four. This clutch play came after a wild comeback and a game that had everyone on the edge of their seats. The Huskies trailed by as many as 19 points in the game, but they fought back to win.

From Down 15 to Final Four Glory

The Huskies faced a massive challenge, being down 15 points at halftime against Duke. The deficit even grew to 19 points at one point. However, UConn refused to give up. Coach’s halftime speech was key, urging his team to stay positive and chip away at the lead. They focused on cutting the lead by three or five points at each media timeout.

By the 10-minute mark, UConn had brought the game back into single digits. This comeback showed the team’s deep trust and confidence in each other. They had clearly worked too hard all season to let this game slip away.

The Winning Shot: A Dream Come True

Mullins himself admitted he thought the final shot was to tie the game, not win it. He was 0 for 4 from three-point range before that crucial moment. “I thought it was for the tie,” Mullins confessed. “I just had to put one up there.” With only four seconds left, it was the best shot they could get.

He described the play: Silas tipped the ball, Mullins grabbed it, and instinctively threw it ahead. His teammate, AK, who had just hit a three-pointer, threw it back to Mullins. “It’s just my instinct was just to throw it ahead,” Mullins explained. “I know AK was ahead of me and he had just hit one. So I thought he was about to shoot it and he he ended up throwing the ball back to me.” Knowing time was running out, Mullins knew he had to shoot.

Childhood Dreams Realized

For Mullins, this moment was something he had dreamed about since childhood. “You dream about it all the time when you’re a kid,” he said. “When you’re out in the driveway shooting, you’re counting down three, two, one, you’re throwing it up.” He called it a blessing to be part of this team and experience such a historic moment.

Playing Back Home

This victory is especially meaningful for Mullins because the Final Four is in Indianapolis, his home state. Coach Hurley had promised him during recruitment that they would take him back to Indianapolis to play for a national championship. “Knowing that I get to go back home in Indy and play in front of the Lucas Oil Stadium, it’s just… that’s like 30 minutes from my house,” Mullins shared. He’s incredibly happy he chose UConn and represents Indiana.

Celebrations and Coach’s Spirit

The locker room celebrations were wild, with players drenching each other. Coach Hurley even joined in, famously losing his pants in the excitement. Mullins, new to these kinds of celebrations, found it interesting. “I’m not used to the whole water celebration thing,” he admitted. “Just to see him coming in with a towel, it was just… it was interesting.” He sees his coach as a role model who leads by example.

After the winning shot, Mullins said his coach was speechless, just beaming with happiness. The coach’s confidence in him has been instrumental all season.

A Flood of Messages

After such a monumental win, Mullins’ phone immediately blew up. He received over a hundred text messages, with more likely pouring in through direct messages. He plans to catch up with everyone when he can, acknowledging the overwhelming support.

“It’s just crazy that that’s cemented in history.” – Brayden Mullins

Source: UConn’s Braylon Mullins says ‘you dream about’ the shot he made to beat Duke | SportsCenter (YouTube)