INDIANAPOLIS — A few hundred text messages were waiting for Braylon Mullins.
His Instagram direct messages were overflowing. That included a message from comedian Joe Gatto of “Impractical Jokers” fame that simply read: “Wow.”
“It’s crazy, I watched that show as a kid,” Mullins said. “He said he talked about it on his comedy show in New York City.”
Monday, Mullins couldn’t scroll social media without seeing his shot, the 35-footer that sent Connecticut past Duke and to this weekend’s Final Four. He has since signed a name, image and likeness deal with Greenies dog treats and launched a “Money Mullins” apparel line.
Calling the freshman’s past five days a whirlwind is an understatement, especially considering it took Mullins home to Indianapolis. He grew up in Greenfield, Ind., a 30-minute drive from Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Now, looking back at it, it’s insane,” the 6-foot-6 guard said as the second-seeded Huskies prepared to face No. 3 Illinois in a national semifinal Saturday night. “Just knowing that shot’s going to [be] replayed every March Madness and I’m a part of that moment. That’s something I can cherish for the rest of my life.”
Tuesday, he was reminded the job wasn’t finished. Coach Dan Hurley gave everyone a day to savor the incredible comeback from a 19-point deficit against the overall top seed.
Then it was back to reality.
“Tuesday the realization set in: Coach Hurley is on you,” Mullins said.
Hurley’s message was simple: “You’ll have that moment the rest of your life. But we came here for rings, not watches. Everyone that comes to the Final Four gets a beautiful watch, but only one group is going to get a ring.”
It does read like a Hollywood script that Mullins would make the shot that sent Connecticut to its third Final Four in four years. Mullins gave tickets to 15 family members and friends, but plenty of others will be in the building. Friday’s opening practice will include “stupid amounts of people” from his hometown.
“It’s like a dream come true, dream scenario, made-for-TV movie or — I guess it goes right to streaming now,” Hurley said.
During his recruitment, the Huskies told Mullins that if he joined them, he would get a chance to play in Indianapolis this weekend. There were photos of the Final Four in the city everywhere he looked on his official visit.
“There was a picture of me on the JW Marriott,” he recalled, referring to the Indianapolis hotel that has a huge poster of the NCAA Tournament bracket on its exterior.
He had a strong freshman year, averaging 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds, but he struggled shooting the ball late in the season. Mullins, a projected top 20 NBA draft pick, missed his first four 3-point attempts against Duke leading up to his final shot and was 4-for-23 from distance in the tournament. With everything on the line, the ball found its way into his hands. He let it go from well beyond the 3-point arc.
Swish.
He was going home after hitting one of the most memorable shots in NCAA Tournament history.
But as Hurley reminded him, and as Mullins pointed out to reporters, the goal wasn’t just reaching the Final Four. UConn has won six national championships since 1999 and seeks to add to its trophy case.
There is one way for this story to somehow get better for the Indiana kid: Cut down the nets Monday night.
“Now we gotta win it,” Mullins said.