Duke took down North Carolina in Chapel Hill in an electric matchup that didn’t disappoint one bit during the NCAA‘s Rivalry Weekend. After the game, it was Cooper Flagg’s mother who took centerstage due to a celebration caught on camera and a very harsh message about the home fans at Dean E. Smith Center.
Duke is now the number one ranked program in college basketball, following their statement victory against the Tar Heels and Auburn’s loss to Alabama. Ahead of the games that really matter, as the Blue Devils gear up for the ACC tournamen and March Madness, Flagg was in the eye of the storm for his mother’s behavior during The Tobacco Road rivalry game.
Flagg put on a clinic during the second half of Duke‘s matchup at North Carolina, the star forward caught fire and was unstoppable, as well as unsurpassable for the Tar Heels. Flagg delivered the final nail in the coffin to UNC with a powerful dunk, to cap off the win. Flagg’s parents were caught by the TV broadcast, gesturing the “On your head” celebration in the stands, which sparked controversy throughout social media.
However, Flagg‘s mother, Kelly, doubled down on his celebration, dropping a bold statement for all fans and students in Chapel Hill to listen to.
Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the SentinelOne Classic at Madison Square Garden on February 22, 2025 in New York City.
“I want to apologize to anyone who was offended by my language that was caught in a celebratory moment. I do realize that it wasn’t my best look,” Kelly Flagg stated on his Facebook profile. “It was a very intense situation we were put into and we were taken aback by the crudeness of the UNC fans as we made our way into the arena.
see also
NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg could be the Dallas Mavericks’ ‘miracle’ after string of injuries, says analyst
“They continued to harass us with much worse being spewed in our direction as well as at our 18 year old son and his teammates throughout the entirety of the game. The celebration was a moment of being so proud of our kid and also a big F-you to the entire Carolina fan base for being classless a——-. If you are UNC fan and didn’t like it…tough s—! Better luck next time! Go Duke.”
Flagg taunts UNC’s gameplan
Duke wasn’t enjoying their visit to UNC during the first half of the game as both schools exchanged blows in an exhausting matchup. Flagg committed three fouls in the first half, and his playing time was limited to nine minutes. As he returned to the court during the final frame, most fans expected the Tar Heels to target Flagg as he was in foul trouble.
However, Flagg roamed free on defense and was able to disrupt the Tar Heels’ offensive drives. Even the freshman star was taken aback by Carolina’s decision, as he admitted after the game with a slight dig at Hubert Davis and UNC.
“A little bit [surprised they didn’t target me]. That would’ve been smart for sure,” Cooper Flagg said postgame, per Sporting News.
Cooper Flagg #2 for the Duke Blue Devils
ACC Tournament
After the loss to Duke, North Carolina finished as the #5 seed in the ACC, and will wait in the tournament’s second round for the winner of #12 Notre Dame and #13 Pittsburgh’s first round duel.
see also
North Carolina freshman Ian Jackson drops confident March Madness statement after loss vs Cooper Flagg, Duke
Duke, on the other hand, crowned themselves ACC regular season champions and own the first seed. The Blue Devils will wait for their quarterfinals matchup, which will be against either: #8 Georgia Tech or #9 Virginia.
