UConn will join Arizona, Illinois and Michigan in Indianapolis after the Huskies punched their ticket to the Final Four in dramatic fashion.
ESPN’s college basketball analysts Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf break down the instant NCAA Tournament classic.
Relive Sunday’s action
How UConn won: Thirty-six years after Christian Laettner hit a buzzer-beater to defeat UConn in the Elite Eight and send Duke to the Final Four, the Huskies got their revenge.
UConn freshman Braylon Mullins stole the ball and buried a 3-pointer from 35 feet to cap a remarkable 19-point comeback. The Huskies are in the final four for the third time in four years after trailing by double digits late. Junior Taris Reed’s 26 points kept the Huskies close and a flurry of 3-pointers in the final four minutes pushed them over the top. National Player of the Year front-runner Cameron Boozer finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his final college game. — Jeff Borzello
Breaking down UConn’s comeback
What happened to Duke?!
Medcalf: Yukon happened. The Huskies were a much better defensive team in the second half than they were in the first, and the Blue Devils’ offensive efficiency in the second half was two-thirds of what it was in the first. UConn matched Duke’s paint production overall (36-34 advantage for the Huskies) and turned the Blue Devils’ 13 turnovers into 20 points. The final minutes showcased Duke’s limitations and its reliance on Cameron Boozer. The star freshman has carried the Blue Devils through plenty of adversity this season — and he almost did it again. But Cayden Boozer’s turnover set up Mullins’ game-winner. Cam Boozer couldn’t save his team this time with the game on the line.
Borjello: The second half was more of a UConn comeback than a Duke fall, but the Blue Devils certainly played their part. In the first half, they did what they wanted on the offensive end. Much of their offense revolved around getting the ball to Cameron Boozer in the post, then Boozer would either finish over, around or through Alex Karaban — or he would wait for UConn to spin over and help, then find an open teammate. Kayden Boozer and Dame Sarr made several big shots in the first half, providing consistent support for the reigning National Player of the Year.
Duke’s offense picked up steam in the second half, with UConn crowding Cameron Boozer more often and with more physicality. The other key was Duke losing its composure when in control, much like St. John’s when it turned up the pressure early in the second half of the Sweet 16. Caleb Foster was able to change the momentum in that game. On Sunday night, the final mistake came when Cayden Boozer made a bad tip with a trap.
What was the biggest reason for UConn’s comeback?
Medcalf: Mullins’ go-ahead 3-pointer was the deciding factor. You had two great teams in a close game. Sometimes, you just need someone to play the hero.
The Huskies also shot 53% of their own in the second half and committed just one turnover in the final 20 minutes (they had four in the first half). To avoid a 19-point deficit, they could not afford to be careless. They didn’t have the best player on the floor — although Reid certainly made a case that he could hold his own against anyone — but they were the best team. Cameron Boozer was 6-for-10 after halftime, but Duke’s other starters were 1-for-4. The Huskies won’t let anyone but Boozer beat them.
Borjello: It sounds simple, but UConn is starting to make shots. The Huskies’ entire first half offense was Reid in the post. It was effective, but Duke countered with Cameron Boozer inside to score and the extra players hit a 3 with seconds to go. UConn made just one of its first 18 3-point attempts before making four of its final five 3s in the final seven minutes of the game.
For most of the second half, UConn had chances to cut into Duke’s lead, but didn’t fall within the open 3s. It gave the Huskies a huge boost when Silas Demaree Jr. hit back-to-back 3s from the opposite corner to put the Huskies within touching distance. Karaban, the winningest player in UConn history, missed his first five 3s but hit a huge one with 50 seconds left to cut the lead. And then there was the already legendary Mullins shot. Obviously there were other things — defense, physicality, mental toughness — but it was the clutch 3s late in the game that got the Huskies the win.
What moment do you remember the most from this game?
Medcalf: I mean, I think we’ll pick the Mullins shot. It will be in the “One Shining Moment” video at the end of the tournament. It’s iconic and will forever make Mullins — a Greenfield, Indiana, native — a hero. But I’ll also think about Karaban’s big 3-pointer that cut Duke’s lead to one earlier. He was struggling all night and yet, he made one of the biggest shots of the game. You have to admire the veteran who is still stepping up, even though things aren’t going his way most of the game.
Borjello: Could it be anything other than Mullin’s bullet? It’s one of the greatest shots in NCAA Tournament history — a 35-footer overall to clinch a 19-point comeback against the No. 1 seed in the bracket and advance to the Final Four — while also giving your team its first lead since the opening minutes of the game. The fact that he sent his team from Indiana to Indianapolis makes it even more special.
UConn-Duke by the numbers
Courtesy of ESPN Research
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Through Sunday, the No. 1 seed was 134-0 when leading by 15 or more points at halftime. Duke Was 27-0 all-time in the tournament when leading by 15 or more points at halftime.
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UConnIts 19-point comeback is tied for the third-most in NCAA Tournament history by the Elite Eight or later.
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UConn Started the game just 1-of-18 from the 3-point line — then made four of their last five attempts from deep, including the game-winner.
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Braylon Mullins He was 0 for 4 from 3-point range before hitting the game winner.
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Duke Up against UConn by as many as 19 points. Another team blew a 19-point lead in this NCAA Tournament… Blue Devils rival North Carolina, against VCU in the Round of 64.
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at half time, Cameron Boozer And Kayden Boozer The entire UConn team had nearly the same points combined (27) as the entire team combined (29).
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This was DukeThird loss of season — all losses in which Blue Devils led by double digits at one point: Dec. 20 vs. Texas Tech, led by 17, lost by 1; Feb. 7 at North Carolina, led by 13, lost by 3; Sunday vs. UConn, led by 19, lost to 1.
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With 1:33 left in the first half, UConnIts in-game win probability was 1.3%, leading Duke 44-25.
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UConn Led for 51.4 seconds this game (2-0 for 51 seconds, 73-72 for 0.4 seconds).
How Michigan won: The Wolverines scored a knockout blow in the first half and cruised from there, displaying the passing, offensive diversity and overall depth that make them a bona fide contender for their first national title since 1989. Michigan never looked back after a 21-0 run and pushed Tennessee’s second-half tempo and led the way in the second half. Big Ten Player of the Year Jaxel Lendborg was the Midwest Regional Player of the Year, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and no turnovers against Tennessee. He got help from fellow transfers Ade Mara and Elliot Cadeau, who each had a game-high 10 assists.
Tennessee’s only chance was to complement its offensive rebounding talents with strong perimeter shooting, but the Volunteers didn’t have nearly enough offensive power outside of Ja’Coby Gillespie (21 points) to not drop their third Elite Eight matchup. Michigan moves on to Indianapolis and will face Arizona in the Final Four. — Adam Rittenberg
