The Huskies raced down the court. With 2.5 seconds left, Braylon Mullins caught the ball near the March Madness logo - 35 feet away from the hoop - and launched a three-pointer.
Swish. 73-72. His heroic shot found the bottom of the net and completed UConn’s historic comeback.
Until that moment, Mullins was 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, but the guard hit the most important shot of his life that sent the Huskies to the Final Four and left Duke in shambles.
UConn scored the opening basket and briefly held the lead before Duke responded a minute later. It was UConn’s largest lead of the game, yet the Huskies sent the Blue Devils home and advanced to the Final Four.
That Elite 8 matchup in the East Region was one of the most electrifying and exciting March Madness games that the basketball world has ever seen.
After Duke got on the board, it was all about them. They started building the lead and created a 19-point cushion in the first half. Coming back from the locker room, Duke continued playing well – the Blue Devils maintained the lead and didn’t crumble. Initially. But in March, even a double-digit lead wasn't safe with some time left in the ball game, and the Huskies didn’t give up.
Little by little, they started cutting Duke’s advantage. With under 10 minutes to go, they were only down nine points. And they kept getting closer. When the game clock hit the final 30 seconds, UConn trailed by a single point, but Duke’s superstar Cameron Boozer hit a clutch spin shot in the paint to extend the lead to three.
The Huskies got a chance to answer, and junior guard Silas Demary was fouled with 10 seconds left. He missed the first free throw but sank the second one. Duke jumped behind the baseline to inbound the basketball, and the rest is history. Mullins’ shot will forever be one of the most iconic moments of March Madness.
Experience vs history
On Saturday, UConn will face Illinois in the national semi-finals. The Huskies enter as slight underdogs, though the margin is narrow. Some projections are on the fence, and the matchup might come down to a crucial play once again.
Experience favours the two-seeded UConn – they won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 under the current head coach, Dan Hurley. They know how to win on a big stage and perform under pressure with everything on the line.
Illinois returned to the Final Four after 21 years and have never stood on top. But the Fighting Illini are in a perfect spot to make history. They are an elite shooting team, and the roster is a balanced mixture between experienced veterans and rising superstars. Freshman Keaton Wagler averages 17.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game and is projected to be a top 10 NBA draft pick in June. If he gets hot early, he can control the game for Illinois.
Battle of the opposites
To earn the trip to the title game, Illinois will need a sharp, effective, and disciplined offence marked by high shooting accuracy. UConn boasts one of the best defences in the country, ranking 14th nationally in defensive efficiency. They make opponents uncomfortable and force them into taking tough shots.
It will be critical for the Fighting Illini to find their rhythm and stay true to their identity. UConn’s scrappy defence can quickly turn into offence, and it proved fatal for Duke.
The Huskies will strive not to let Illinois catch fire. The pace of the game should favour UConn – both teams prefer to take their time to create a good look. If UConn restricts those for Illinois, Illini’s opportunities to score will be limited. Knocking down open shots and capitalising on the other team’s mistakes will be key.
This might be a low-scoring game where flawless execution becomes crucial.
Seeking revenge
Illinois are the better rebounding team – they average 41 rebounds per game, while the Huskies fall behind with 36.3. To be successful, UConn must compete on the glass and eliminate Illinois’ second chances.
This won’t be the first meeting of the two teams – they squared off against each other in November, and the Huskies won 74-61. They outrebounded Illinois and forced them to shoot only 21 % from the three and 32 % from the field. UConn will need to replicate that performance to advance to the finals.
Illinois have likely adjusted since that loss and will approach this matchup with a different game plan to avenge the loss. So far, they have been cruising through the big dance and should play with tremendous and noticeable confidence.
UConn are looking to keep the momentum and break the curse that surrounds the Blue Devils.
With Duke out of the NCAA tournament, why should it bother UConn? In reality, it shouldn’t. But there is an interesting narrative regarding the school from North Carolina. Dating back to 2018, every team that beat Duke in March Madness lost the following game. UConn now has the opportunity to change the narrative.