The conversation around UConn basketball often returns to moments that changed the trajectory of a game, a season, or even a program.
Tate George’s 1990 Sweet Sixteen buzzer‑beater against Clemson is still celebrated as the spark that ignited the Huskies’ ‘Dream Season’, a run that culminated in a Final Four appearance.
Nearly four decades later, Braylon Mullins delivered a 2026 Elite Eight ‘Boozer‑beater’ against Duke that halted a 19‑point deficit and sent UConn back to the Final Four, a feat that many now view as equally transformative.
The Shots That Defined Eras
Longtime UConn coach Tom Moore argues that Mullins’ shot carried greater historical weight because of the dramatic swing it created in a game that seemed lost.
Former teammate and all‑time leading scorer Chris Smith places George’s iconic jumper slightly above Mullins’ in terms of pure memorability, yet he concedes that both moments belong to the same pantheon of UConn lore.
Josh Mullins, Braylon’s father, admits he cannot pick a clear favorite, emphasizing that each shot holds a unique place in the Huskies’ narrative.
Marquette coach Shaka Smart praised the younger Mullins’ shot but pointed out that its success relied on key assists from teammates such as Alex Karaban, Scott Burrell and Jamal Coombs‑McDaniel.
Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr. contends that the impact of Mullins’ buzzer‑beater is amplified by the fact that it turned a defeat into a pathway to the Final Four, shifting momentum in a way that George’s shot did not.
The legacy of UConn’s clutch performances also includes Kemba Walker’s 2011 Big East Tournament jumper, a moment that continues to be referenced alongside George’s and Mullins’ feats.
Dave Borges, who has covered UConn since 2007, describes both shots as pillars of the program’s identity, with George’s marking the start of the ‘Dream Season’ and Mullins’ securing a coveted Final Four berth.