UConn is back in the national championship game, and honestly, it’s becoming kind of predictable at this point. The Huskies dominated Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four on Saturday, securing their third trip to the championship game in four years under coach Dan Hurley. And yeah, they did it the way they’ve been doing it all tournament, through grit, defense, and some seriously clutch moments from freshman sensation Braylon Mullins.

If you’ve been paying attention to March Madness, you already know Mullins’ name. The Greenfield, Indiana native hit one of the most ridiculous shots of the tournament last weekend against Duke, a 35-foot three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the Elite Eight. Well, he did it again Saturday, this time with 52 seconds left in the game. After a defensive rebound, Mullins nailed a catch-and-shoot three that basically sealed the deal for UConn, pushing their lead to 66-59 when Illinois was trying to make a comeback.

“Just trying to find the best look on the floor, and I know our point guards are going to get us the ball, so I think that was the biggest shot I hit tonight”, Mullins said after the game. The guy finished with 15 points, and while that might not seem like a ton, his ability to show up in the biggest moments is genuinely impressive for a freshman.

Tarris Reed Jr. was the real work horse though, dropping 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to anchor UConn’s strong inside game. Even star forward Alex Karaban, who’s been incredible all season, had an off night shooting just 1-for-8 from the field. But that’s kind of been the story of UConn this season, they don’t need any single player to go off. It’s a total team effort.

On the flip side, Illinois made a real run in this tournament and should be proud of themselves. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler led the Illini with 20 points and eight rebounds, making history alongside Mullins as the first pair of freshmen to score 15+ points in a Final Four game since Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing in 1982. Tomislav Ivisic added 16 points and seven rebounds. But Illinois just couldn’t get their three-point shot to fall, hitting only 6 of 26 from deep, which basically tells you everything you need to know about why they lost.

UConn will face Michigan in the championship game Monday night with a chance to win their seventh national title, all since 1999. If they win, Hurley would become the only active coach with more than two championships. The Huskies have been absolutely dominant in tournament play since 2009, winning 19 straight games in the Sweet 16 or later rounds.

“We’re a tough program, we’re a group of fighters”, Hurley said after the win. “We’ve got incredible will. We go into these games, we’re ready for battle”. That’s really the vibe here. UConn isn’t flashy. They grind. They defend. And when they need a bucket, they find a way to get it.