UConn's insane shot to beat Duke forces a re-rank of the best NCAA Tournament buzzer beaters
On3 • • sports
Key Points:
- Connecticut freshman Braylon Mullins made a dramatic 35-foot buzzer-beater to beat Duke in the 2026 Elite Eight, sending the Huskies to the Final Four and earning a spot among the greatest NCAA Tournament buzzer-beaters.
- The top-ranked buzzer-beater remains Christian Laettner's 1992 shot for Duke against Kentucky, notable for its perfect pass and execution under intense pressure.
- Other iconic shots include Kris Jenkins’ 2016 national championship-winning three-pointer for Villanova, Lorenzo Charles’ 1983 game-winning dunk for N.C. State, and Mario Chalmers’ 2008 three-pointer for Kansas to force overtime against Memphis.
- The list also features clutch moments from Mamadi Diakite’s 2019 shot for Virginia, Tyus Edney’s 1995 coast-to-coast layup for UCLA, Bryce Drew’s 1998 Cinderella shot for Valparaiso, and Jordan Poole’s 2018 game-winner for Michigan.
- These buzzer-beaters are ranked based on the stakes, difficulty, and impact on their teams’ tournament success, highlighting moments of extraordinary skill and timing in NCAA history.
