EAST LANSING, Mich. - Dan Hurley considered playing Braylon Mullins in the first half of the UConn men's basketball team's exhibition bout with Michigan State on Tuesday night.
Mullins, out for nearly a month with an undisclosed injury, had practiced for three straight days and appeared just about ready to make his 2026-27 debut. He participated in pregame warm-ups, but by the time the Huskies returned to the floor for their final warm-ups prior to the opening tap, Mullins was in civilian clothes alongside fellow injured shooter Solo Ball.
"We shut him down," Hurley said of Mullins. "We should have him ready for Purdue, as long as there's no setbacks."
UConn hosts Purdue on Oct. 27 at PeoplesBank Arena in its final exhibition tune-up. Hurley feels it's important for Mullins, a Big East All-Freshman team pick last season after averaging 12 points per game, to get in at least one exhibition before the games start to count on Nov. 2 in Hartford against Gardner-Webb.
"Obviously, we've got to protect a player's health," Hurley said. "But, these are excellent reps to get right now."
UConn's offense looked very sharp in Tuesday night's 78-70 win over Sparty at Breslin Center, even without Mullins.
"Braylon is such a prolific player," Hurley explained, "him not being available forced us to cut better, work on execution and our shuffles and twirls, the things we do to put pressure on the rim without ball screen and roll or post-up."
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This article originally published at UConn's Braylon Mullins sits out second exhibition, but should be ready for Purdue next week.