When UConn needed a closer against Providence earlier this month, Dan Hurley turned to Braylon Mullins - and the freshman delivered. The five-star guard dropped a team-high 24 points in that Jan. 7 win, showing exactly why he's one of the most electric young players in the Big East.
But Tuesday night was a different story. Mullins was sidelined with a concussion, suffered just days earlier against Villanova. And with the Huskies once again locked in a tight battle with the Friars, Hurley didn’t have his sharpshooting freshman to lean on.
Still, UConn found a way, grinding out an 87-81 win at Gampel Pavilion. And after the game, Hurley offered an encouraging update on Mullins' recovery.
“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.”
Mullins was spotted in warm-up gear at the end of the bench - a promising sign for a player who’s already dealt with more than his share of setbacks this season. He missed the first six games of his college career with a preseason ankle injury, only making his debut on Dec. 10 against Illinois at Madison Square Garden.
That night, Hurley kept him on a short leash, playing him just 10 minutes. But once Mullins got rolling, he quickly earned a starting role - and made it count.
Heading into Tuesday, Mullins had started every Big East game for UConn and was lighting it up from deep. He led the team in three-point makes during conference play and was shooting a scorching 62% true shooting percentage. That includes a six-three performance in UConn’s first meeting with Providence and another five triples against Xavier before the calendar flipped to 2026.
So yeah, his absence was felt. And not just by UConn fans.
“Thankfully, Braylon Mullins wasn’t out there, because then it’s impossible [to guard],” Providence head coach Kim English said after the game. “They don’t have any shooters like him out there.”
English wasn’t wrong. With Mullins unavailable and UConn’s usual perimeter threats - Solo Ball and Alex Karaban - struggling to find rhythm, the Huskies had to dig deeper into the bench. What they found was a pair of unexpected heroes.
Freshman big man Eric Reibe came off the bench to score 14 points, providing a crucial interior presence. And Malachi Smith? He was lights out, knocking down all four of his three-point attempts in a flawless shooting performance that helped swing momentum UConn’s way.
It was the kind of gritty, team-wide effort that championship-level programs find a way to produce - even when key players are missing.
As for Mullins, Hurley didn’t commit to a timeline for his return, including whether he’ll be available for Saturday’s matchup against Creighton. It’s worth noting that UConn guard Alec Millender, who also suffered a concussion earlier this season, missed two games before returning - a potential reference point, but not a guarantee.
Still, the signs are pointing in the right direction for Mullins. And if he’s close to returning, that’s a big boost for a UConn squad that’s already shown it can win without him - but is clearly at another level when he’s on the floor.