When Dan Hurley talks about Braylon Mullins, you can hear both the excitement and the caution in his voice. The UConn head coach knows what kind of player Mullins can be for the Huskies - a dynamic, high-upside guard with the potential to be a game-changer. But he’s also asking fans to take a breath and give the freshman some time to find his rhythm.
Mullins made his long-awaited regular-season debut last Friday against then-No. 13 Illinois at Madison Square Garden.
It was a tough spot for a first game back - bright lights, top-tier opponent, and just 10 minutes to shake off six weeks of rust. He went 1-for-5 from the field, missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Not exactly a box score that jumps off the page, but Hurley’s not sweating it - and neither should anyone else.
“It is going to take Bray some time,” Hurley said. “Bray is dealing with basically missing just about six weeks and then being dumped into Illinois at MSG and Kansas on the road. We are just happy he is back on the court to start his season.”
That six-week absence traces back to a mid-October ankle injury, which sidelined Mullins during a crucial stretch of preseason development. Now, he’s being asked to jump into high-level competition without the benefit of easing in. It’s not an easy task - but it’s not unprecedented either.
Hurley pointed to past examples within the program. Last year, Liam McNeeley missed five weeks with a high ankle sprain, but that came in January, when he already had a defined role.
The year before, Steph Castle missed six games early in the season with a knee injury, then returned to put together one of the best freshman campaigns in UConn history. Mullins’ situation, Hurley says, is more like Castle’s - an early-season setback that delays the start, but doesn’t derail the journey.
“They are night and day situations comparing Liam and Bray in terms of what they are returning to, what they have around them,” Hurley said. “Bray is insulated by a lot of veteran players and a lot of talent, but also a defense.
(We are) a team that defends. When we are healthy, when Tarris is healthy, I feel like we are two-deep at every position.”
And that depth matters. Unlike McNeeley, who had to step in and produce immediately, Mullins is surrounded by experienced players who can carry the load while he gets his legs under him. That gives him the luxury of time - and the opportunity to grow into his role without the pressure of having to be “the guy” right away.
“For Bray I don’t think there is a ton of pressure on him the way there was for Liam having to come back and having to get 20 (points) per game,” Hurley added. “I think he is going to get to the point where he is going to have some explosive nights, and he is going to be a go-to guy for us on offense.”
UConn fans have seen this movie before. When Castle returned from his early-season injury two years ago, he played just 10 minutes in a marquee matchup against North Carolina at Madison Square Garden.
He scored three points on 1-of-3 shooting. Modest numbers - but the Huskies won that game 87-76 and went on to win the national title with Castle playing a major role.
That’s the kind of long game Hurley is playing with Mullins. He doesn’t need him to be perfect now. He needs him to be ready when it matters most.
“He has a runway here where he can just try to get his feet under him, be a two-way player, get a feel for what we are trying to do at both ends of the court,” Hurley said. “He missed critical time. I just think he has a group that is going to support his return well.”
And once Mullins finds his footing? That’s when things get scary - for everyone else.
This UConn team is already loaded. Heading into Tuesday’s showdown at Kansas, the Huskies have four players averaging double figures: Tarris Reed Jr.
(15.5), Solo Ball (14.3), Alex Karaban (14.0), and Silas Demary (12.0). Add in freshman center Eric Reibe, who’s quietly putting up 8.9 points per game while shooting a blistering 64.3%, and you’ve got a balanced, efficient, and deep offensive unit.
Now imagine inserting a dynamic perimeter scorer like Mullins into that mix.
“He is going to be a major difference maker for us,” Hurley said. “I think offensively obviously he is going to take a lot of pressure off of Alex and Solo, and he is going to get better shots for everyone just with his presence and his shooting gravity.
He is going to need some grace here. He has just been dropped right into the fire.”
There’s no need to rush the process. Mullins is still getting his legs back, still learning the system, still adjusting to the speed of the college game after missing nearly two months. But the tools are there, the support is there, and the opportunity is there.
And once it all clicks, UConn could be adding another weapon to an already dangerous arsenal.