Ask Mark Anything: Will Braylon Mullins’ shot finally replace the Laettner shot?
Way back in the first decade of the 2000s, I used to do a feature called “Ask Mark Anything” on my blog.
After some 15 years or so of dormancy, I am bringing it back.
It works like this: You can ask me anything — but I am going to choose the questions that I want to answer.
So let’s get to it.
Question one: Comes from “X”
Mark’s reply: After 34 years, many Kentucky fans are beyond over having to watch replays of Christian Laettner’s overtime buzzer-beater that gave Duke a 104-103 win over UK in the 1992 NCAA Tournament East Region finals.
So Melody is not the only member of the BBN who has expressed the hope that the dramatic 3-pointer by Connecticut freshman Braylon Mullins with 0:00.4 left in the game that gave the Huskies a 73-72 win over Duke Sunday in the 2026 East Region final will knock the Laettner shot out of such regular March Madness rotation.
Alas, my guess is that if the game-winning shot by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins at the buzzer to beat North Carolina 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Championship Game did not knock the Laettner shot out of such heavy play in NCAA Tournament promotions, the Mullins shot will not do so either.
I think that’s partly because the Laettner shot put the crescendo on a game that many consider the greatest college hoops contest ever played. I also think that, after all these years, the constant replaying of Laettner’s shot has sort of taken on a self-perpetuating life of its own.
Question Two: As a nickname for the (2025-26) Kentucky basketball team, what do you think of “The Forgettables?” — Paul N., via email
Mark’s reply: Way too harsh.
While maddening in their inconsistency, the 2025-26 Cats gave the BBN some memorable moments: Beating Rick Pitino, sweeping Tennessee, beating John Calipari and Otega Oweh’s overtime-forcing NCAA Tournament buzzer beater vs. Santa Clara.
So even if you regard UK as an overall disappointment for the just-concluded season, there were some moments that were not and should not be “forgettable.”
Question three: It was inexcusable for Kentucky (men’s basketball) not to have a backup point guard. Why didn’t they have a backup?” — Andre W., via email
Mark’s reply: After Kentucky lost starting point guard Jaland Lowe for the season due to his shoulder injury, the Cats were certainly left without any other guard who could consistently create for others.
In fairness to Mark Pope, Kentucky entered April of last year looking like it would be three-deep at the point.
Besides Lowe, the incoming transfer from Pittsburgh, well-regarded Class of 2025 point guard prospect Acaden Lewis had signed with Kentucky.
The Cats also had Travis Perry, who had started four games for UK due to injuries to others as lead guard as a freshman in 2024-25, on their roster.
Then, on April 10, Lewis de-committed (and ended up playing for Villanova). Twelve days later, Perry went into the transfer portal (and wound up at Ole Miss).
And that is how UK ended up entering this past season with only one true point guard on its team.
Question four: Is in relation to some numbers I shared on my social media timelines showing the leading all-time scorers in UK history by number of years played.
On Facebook, E.L.B. asks if I can share the same info for all-time Kentucky rebounders.
Mark’s reply: Below are the top rebounders in Kentucky men’s basketball history by number of varsity seasons played for the Cats:
Four years: Kenny Walker, 942 rebounds
Three years: Dan Issel, 1,078 rebounds
Two years: Oscar Tshiebwe, 952 rebounds
One year: Julius Randle, 417 rebounds
Question five: Comes from Twitter, and asks about the prospect of former Bullitt East and Bellarmine center Gracie Merkle transferring to UK from Penn State?
Mark’s reply: A 6-foot-6 center who averaged 19.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and shot 72.5% this past season for Penn State, Gracie Merkle will be a highly-coveted player if she goes into the transfer portal.
In her Bullitt East days, Merkle made an unofficial recruiting visit to UK during the Kyra Elzy coaching era, but the Cats did not seem to pursue her following the visit.
Whether the current Kentucky coaching staff would have interest in Merkle is unclear. That consideration would likely start with whether incumbent UK center Clara Strack would want to shift to power forward.
Question six: Is about transferring Kentucky women’s basketball guard Lexi Blue and comes from Twitter:
Mark’s reply: As a sophomore this past season, Lexi Blue appeared in 28 games, averaged only 10.8 minutes a contest and 2.1 points and 1.0 rebounds.
With UK adding three McDonald’s All-America perimeter players in point guard Maddyn Greenway, combo guard Elizabeth McDonald and forward Savvy Swords, the 6-2 Blue likely had a less clear path to playing time at Kentucky next year than she did this past season — when she wasn’t playing that much.
So her publicly announced decision to enter the transfer portal makes sense.
It is a shame that it didn’t work out because “Lexi Blue” is the best name ever for a Kentucky Wildcat.
