Braylon Mullins’s Miracle: Ranking the 12 Most Improbable Shots of March Madness
Sports Illustrated • • general
Key Points:
- UConn freshman Braylon Mullins’s 35-foot buzzer-beater to beat Duke in the 2026 East Regional final is ranked 7th among the greatest NCAA men’s tournament buzzer beaters, noted for its chaotic scramble and clutch execution during a comeback from a 19-point deficit.
- The top-ranked buzzer beater is Lorenzo Charles’s game-winning dunk in the 1983 national title game, an iconic underdog moment where NC State won on a last-second rebound dunk after a missed shot.
- Other legendary shots include Kris Jenkins’s 2016 national title-winning three-pointer for Villanova, Christian Laettner’s perfect final shot in the 1992 East Regional final, and Mario Chalmers’s 2008 championship game three-pointer that forced overtime for Kansas.
- Criteria for ranking these shots include shock value, historic impact, spontaneity, difficulty, drama, and whether the shot ended a season or led to a championship.
- Honorable mentions include memorable buzzer beaters from various tournament rounds and years, highlighting the rich history of clutch moments in March Madness.
