When UConn and Providence last met on January 7, it was Braylon Mullins who stepped into the spotlight. The five-star freshman dropped a team-high 24 points, including a barrage of threes, to help the Huskies escape a tight one against the Friars. Fast forward to Tuesday night, and the rematch had all the makings of another Big East battle-but this time, UConn had to go to war without their breakout star.
Mullins was sidelined after suffering a concussion in UConn’s previous game against Villanova. The injury occurred early in the second half, when he took a shot to the head from Acaden Lewis’ off-arm while pressing on defense.
Mullins showed clear signs of balance issues and needed assistance to leave the floor. He didn’t return in what turned into an overtime win for the Huskies, and he was ruled out for Tuesday’s rematch with Providence.
Even without Mullins, UConn managed to hold off the Friars 87-81 at Gampel Pavilion. But make no mistake-his absence was felt.
Mullins had been UConn’s most efficient perimeter threat in conference play, leading the team in three-point makes while shooting a scorching 62% true shooting percentage. He had six threes in the first matchup with Providence and five more against Xavier before the New Year.
That kind of firepower doesn’t just disappear-it forces the defense to stretch, rotate, and scramble. And when it’s gone, the offense has to find new ways to generate rhythm.
Dan Hurley’s squad found those answers in some unexpected places. With Mullins out and the usual suspects-Solo Ball and Alex Karaban-struggling to find consistency from deep, UConn leaned on its bench to deliver.
Freshman big man Eric Reibe stepped up with 14 points off the bench, showing poise in the paint and a soft touch around the rim. Malachi Smith, meanwhile, was lights out from beyond the arc, going a perfect 4-for-4 from three.
It wasn’t the script Hurley might’ve drawn up, but it got the job done.
After the game, Hurley offered a positive update on Mullins’ recovery. The freshman was seen in warm-up gear at the end of the bench, and while he didn’t suit up, his presence was a good sign.
“He’s doing well, he looked good today,” Hurley said. “If he ramps it up, he’s going to potentially do some things on the court [Wednesday], just to see how he’s feeling.
I think the symptoms are progressing nicely for him, so obviously, we’re going to take good care of him. He’s healing well from it.”
This is the second time Mullins has been forced to miss time this season. He sat out the Huskies’ first six games due to a preseason ankle injury, finally making his college debut at Madison Square Garden against Illinois on December 10. Hurley brought him along slowly, limiting his minutes over the next few games, but once Big East play began, Mullins was firmly in the starting lineup-and making his presence known.
Providence head coach Kim English didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the impact of Mullins’ absence after the game. “Thankfully, Braylon Mullins wasn’t out there, because then it’s impossible [to guard],” English said. “They don’t have any shooters like him out there.”
And he’s not wrong. Mullins’ combination of range, confidence, and efficiency gives UConn a dimension that’s hard to replicate. While Smith and Reibe stepped up admirably, Mullins is a difference-maker-especially in tight games where one big shot can swing momentum.
Hurley didn’t offer any specifics about Mullins’ availability for UConn’s upcoming matchup with Creighton on Saturday night. If the freshman is cleared for activity this week, it’ll be a step in the right direction. The Huskies have already shown they can win without him-but with Mullins in the lineup, they’re a different beast entirely.
As the Big East schedule heats up, UConn will hope their sharpshooting freshman is back in uniform soon. Because when March rolls around, the Huskies will need all the firepower they can get.