Duke, back to ‘hunters’, rallies to dominate UNC

• David HaleMar 8, 2025, 09:15 PM ET

  Close

  • College football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.CHAPEL HILL, N.C.– Duke played without Cooper Flagg for nearly

10 minutes in the very first half, and as the Blue Devils'”ran out of gas,”according to coach Jon Scheyer, they fumbled away a 15-point lead and went into the break up simply one on North Carolina.Scheyer’s message when the group hit the locker space:”This is fantastic.” For a team that had actually won 5 of its past six games by a minimum of 30 points getting in Saturday night’s regular-season ending versus the rival Tar Heels, Scheyer was more than pleased to see Duke deal with some difficulty– something the Blue Devils did down the stretch, thundering to an 82-69 win over UNC to secure the No. 1 seed in next week’s ACC tournament. “We never ever want to be the hunted, “Scheyer stated. “In some cases, when you talk too much about what a team is attempting to do, you end up being the hunted. We wish to be the hunters.

We need to continue to do that. From here on out, it’s end-of-season time if you lose. We need to be prepared to go. “Editor’s Picks 2 Related That adversity showed up with three early fouls on Flagg, consisting of a charge that sent him to the bench for the final

3:18 of the half.

With their

centerpiece sidelined, heaven Devils had a hard time to get stops, and UNC chipped away at an enormous deficit to pull to within a point.The second half opened with more scoring from the Tar Heels, who went up by seven with 15:44 left, however that’s when the hardship discovered an appropriate foe in an emotional Flagg.Flagg played the second half with 3 fouls and still dominated on defense, acquiring 4 blocks to key the Blue Devils’comeback. He finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

After numerous key plays down the stretch, including a beast dunk, he flexed and played to the hostile crowd.”It’s practically entering a rhythm, entering the game, “Flagg stated.”I believe I’m at my finest when I’m playing with energy, having fun with a high motor. Having those energy plays, being high for my colleagues,

for myself, having that energy is infectious. I was attempting to bring that in the 2nd half. “UNC hardly ever attacked Flagg early in the 2nd half, something he stated was surprising.”It would’ve been clever, “Flagg said.And yet, it might not have mattered. Scheyer said he ‘d have played Flagg regardless, informing his freshman to be aggressive but not”

handsy.””You worry about him playing reluctant and not being himself,” Scheyer said.

“For him to get four blocks while having the three fouls was huge time. He was all set to play. He just wanted it almost excessive. “Afterward, Scheyer made the case for Flagg to win national player of the year

honors, noting the myriad methods he affects a game– something that was on display throughout Duke’s second-half run Saturday.”I don’t believe we’ve seen that in college in a long time,” Scheyer stated,” which’s what he does. However that’s not what Cooper bets.”Duke likewise got aid from Maliq Brown, who provided two big 3-pointers after missing out on 3 weeks because of a shoulder injury, and Caleb Foster, whose layup with

10:19 to go sparked a Duke run.For Scheyer, the combination of bench production during Flagg’s first-half exit and getting rid of

the second-half deficit showed once again that his group can find adequate methods to win.For the Tar Heels, the loss ensures they’ll be a hunter in the ACC competition. After a 17-point loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 1, the Heels won 7 of their next 8 to return to the NCAA competition bubble. However Saturday’s loss likely has UNC on the outdoors searching in, requiring to win at least a number of conference tournament games– and maybe the whole thing– next week. “I’ve taken pride in how this group has reacted,”Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis stated.”I do not believe that’s going to change at all. We’ll regroup and be prepared to go.”If he desires heaven Devils to remain the hunters, Scheyer will likely need to prevent looking at the standings.

Duke protected the ACC’s regular-season title with the win, however integrated with Auburn’s 93-91 loss to Alabama on Saturday, it’s most likely the Blue Devils will likewise get in the conference tournament

as the No. 1 group in the nation. “We have actually never ever discussed being No. 1 … besides when this thing is all said and done,” Scheyer stated.”Just my luck to be No. 1 entering into the postseason. But we make it about finishing what’s right in front of us, doing our finest in the moment, and if we do that, by the end, we wish to be 1 when it’s done.

“