Flagg flaunts complete toolbox in UNC competition debut

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• / > David HaleFeb 1, 2025, 09:00 PM ET Close College football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012.
• Graduate of the University of Delaware.DURHAM, N.C.– In his first taste of the Duke-North Carolina competition, Cooper Flagg delivered probably the most total performance of his profession to lead the Blue Devils to a dominant 87-70 success Saturday night.Flagg scored or assisted on each of Duke’s first 6 baskets as heaven Devils raced to an early lead,

and his final line– 21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 takes and 2 obstructed shots– proved to be an emphatic launching in one of the country’s terrific competitions. It was likewise the latest example that, as Duke coach Jon Scheyer stated, Flagg is a basketball” sage.””It might be [my best college game], “Flagg stated,”but for me, I’m simply attempting to make the right plays. Four of the very first 6 baskets I assisted. That’s huge for me to discover my teammates and make plays for them.”The excellent efficiency still fell short of what Flagg might have done, Scheyer stated. Flagg played all but the last 47 seconds of the second half, and Scheyer thought his star freshman was worn down towards completion, when North Carolina cut Duke’s lead from 32 with 9:04 to play to 16 at the 2:59 mark.Editor’s Picks 1 Related Flagg stated he was angry with

his– and Duke’s– efficiency in that late stretch, in spite of the lopsided win.”It was a little bit of me being tired and making some dumb mistakes at the end,”Flagg stated. “Being soft at the end type of played into that.” Scheyer took obligation for Flagg’s sluggish surface but included it’s rare to post such gaudy numbers and still find room for criticism.”He practically had a triple-double, and he wasn’t rather himself [at

completion], “Scheyer said. “But besides that section, he was just in control the entire game. He makes everybody much better around him, and it’s a heck of a thing to have 21, 8 and 7 and you think he might’ve done more.” Flagg’s ability to include teammates was at the forefront of Saturday’s win. In the

very first 5 minutes, he acquired four assists, two steals and a rebound. Cooper Flagg had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in his very first Duke-UNC rivalry game. AP Photo/Ben McKeown Fellow Duke freshman Kon Knueppel ended up with a game-high 22 points and 5 helps. Flagg and Knueppel are

the first teammates to each tally 20 points and 5 assists in a game in this rivalry in 15 years. The last duo was Duke’s Scheyer and Nolan Smith.”They absolutely feed off each other,”Scheyer stated.”It starts with their competitiveness. They play both sides of the ball.

They have high-level feel. … Add in their ability and adaptability. Kon’s publishing and shooting and pick-and-roll. And everybody knows, Cooper’s already doing whatever. They have a fantastic thing. There’s a great deal of maturity with both of them. “Despite that maturity, this was still their first time experiencing the competition. As a recruit, Flagg sat behind the Duke bench last season as the Tar Heels mustered an 84-79 win in Cameron Indoor Arena. North Carolina players chirped at Duke’s squad throughout, and Flagg stated he kept in mind the Tar Heels teasing the Cameron Crazies after it was over, which he stated added a little motivation this time.Flagg confessed to some pregame nerves in an environment he described as”really loud and hot,”but he said as soon as the game tipped off, he was locked on the action.”You could definitely feel a various energy tonight,”Flagg said. “For us, it’s simply another game. We came out and executed our game plan, did what we were attempting to do, and came out with the win.

It’s another game, and we’re chasing after a huge mission this year. “