Duke back in Elite 8 behind Flagg’s 30-point clinic

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30 points, 6 rebounds, 7 helps and 3 blocks to lead Duke past Arizona 100-93 in the Sugary food 16.”That was one of the very best tournament performances I have actually ever coached or been a part of,” Duke coach Jon

Scheyer said after the game.The Blue Devils will deal with Alabama on Saturday in the Elite Eight.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Flagg remained in legally rarefied air Thursday night. He

ended up being the first Duke player with 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in an NCAA competition game because

assists ended up being

an official figure in 1984, according to ESPN Research, and simply the second player with at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, 5 helps and 3 blocks in an NCAA competition game since blocks became official in 1986. The other player to do it was UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon in 1994. Flagg likewise ended up being the very first player with 30-5-5 and one or fewer turnovers considering that Chris Mullin in 1985. “He just did what he was expected to do, and he’ll carry on and

prepare yourself for Alabama,”Scheyer said.” I believe that’s the charm of it with him. He does not get captured up in all that.”What I’ve desired from him is not to postpone. I’ve simply desired him to totally be him, and I thought he was that. He remained in his aspect tonight.

He was him. He had just an excellent personality. He was loose, talking, competitive, the entire thing. So yeah, he impresses me all the time. “Early on, Flagg was peaceful offensively, with just three points through 12 minutes. However he scored on back-to-back layups

, hit a number of difficult shots and started to be more aggressive. Cooper Flagg had 30 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks in what Duke coach Jon Scheyer called “one of the very best competition performances I’ve ever coached or been a part of.” Patrick Smith/Getty Images

“I believe just having fun with truly great energy, trusting our tactical plan, trusting my colleagues,” Flagg said. “They put me in some really good spots tonight. Coach, as well, put me in some really great areas. I think simply making the right play and simply letting the game occur.”

Arizona had gone punch for punch with Duke for the very first 19 and a half minutes, just one stop from entering into halftime connected at 42. Then Kon Knueppel struck a 3; Caleb Love missed out on a shot with seven seconds left; Mason Gillis grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Flagg, who brought up from numerous feet behind the 3-point line and buried the shot as time expired.Suddenly, a tied rating became a six-point Duke lead heading into the break– and a quick 14-5 Duke run coming out of halftime put heaven Devils up 15, and the game was basically out of reach.Arizona would not get closer than five the rest of the game.”We talk about inflection points, and the end of the half is an actually huge inflection point, “Knueppel said.Added Scheyer:” That was important in that minute.” Duke hit 100 points for the 5th time this season and the 4th time given that mid-February. Heaven Devils shot 60 %from the field, 58% from 3 and 85% from the free throw line.It’s the 2nd time they beat Arizona this season; they scored a 69-55 win over the Wildcats in November.”They’re a group that they come down, they have a strategy, they understand what they wish to get, and they’re able to get to it

regularly, which is tough to do, “Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said.”We’re not a bad protective group, however they make you seem like it for long stretches today.” They have actually done an actually excellent job creating certainty, and all their young guys have gotten better.

Their vets like [Tyrese] Proctor, Sion James– he’s impressive– have actually gotten better. Even Pat Ngongba has actually improved throughout the year. They have actually got a great deal of great pieces, and they all mesh. “Love played the last game of his college profession, and it was perhaps the very best he has played because reaching North Carolina in 2020. He had

35 points, solitarily keeping the Wildcats within striking range for long stretches in the second half.Love became the first player with 35 points and no turnovers against a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament since Michael Finley in 1994, according to

ESPN Research study. He also ended up being the 2nd player in NCAA competition history to have a 30-point game with two groups.” Caleb is a great person, and he’s been through a lot, “Lloyd said.”I hope everyone takes an action back, whether they have actually been a hater or whatever or

[ piling on], and offer this guy a genuine chance since he’s special. … Been through it, and he’s come out the opposite of it much better. “