There were high hopes and expectations for the Duke Blue Devils entering this season. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg</a>, the undisputed No. 1 prospect in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a>, had all eyes on him long before he announced his commitment.



Then again, things haven’t been as smooth in Durham so far. Duke is 5-2 to start the season, including tough losses to No. 4 Kentucky and No. 1 Kansas. Moreover, Flagg had some miscues in crucial times in both of the losses.



Then again, the 17-year-old, who’s projected to be the first-overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, isn’t too bothered because of that. If anything, he knows it’s all a part of the learning process.



<h2>Cooper Flagg talks about Duke’s issues</h2>



“I think for us, it’s just about experience,” Flagg said. “We have some people, me included, that haven’t been in these types of situations before. So we’re just going to keep learning, keep doing our best. We trust each other, we trust the plays coach is calling. It just comes down to us executing and getting the shots that we want. And just comes with experience.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241203_BUS_285150_Cooper-Flagg-1024x576_fff1cc84.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-284788" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>NCAA, College League, USA Basketball 2024: Seattle vs Duke NOV 29 November 29, 2024: Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) catches a lob during the NCAA Basketball game between the Seattle Redhawks and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Greg Atkins CSM </figcaption></figure>



Duke veteran guard Tyrese Proctor had similar thoughts about this issue. As much as people will point the finger at the star, it takes a team effort to get the job done:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Everyone keeps talking about the turnovers and Cooper turning it over,” Proctor said. “I mean, it’s a sum of the whole game. We’re missing rebounds. We’re not getting back in D transition. That leads to turnovers that result in points. But, end of the game, we trust them to have the ball in their hands. We know they can make a play.”</blockquote>



<h2>Jon Scheyer wants Duke to play with toughness</h2>



The Blue Devils rallied late to get a 22-point win over Seattle on Friday night. Nevertheless, coach Jon Scheyer believes the game should’ve never been close to begin with:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I just thought we were really soft in the first half,” Scheyer said after the win. “They were more physical with us. That’s two games in a row. They came out more physical than us on defense. We were softer. I thought we were rushing shots. We had too many turnovers. We need to finish stronger, drive stronger, make extra passes.”</blockquote>


 

 


Duke will now square off with No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday night. The Tigers are undefeated after seven games, and with a physical specimen like Johni Broome anchoring the paint, the Blue Devils will need to be a little more physical than usual to make a statement.

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Duke stars address Cooper Flagg's issues

miniaturas

For years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> fans and scouts alike have kept a close eye on Cooper Flagg. The Duke forward went viral during his days at Montverde Academy because of his rare combination of size, shooting, and handles.



Deemed as the best player in his class, he was expected to dominate the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow"> </a><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a> scene right out of the gate. However, while he has been good, his numbers haven’t popped out in the way some people expected.



With that in mind, ESPN expert Seth Greenberg explained why there’s nothing to be worried about when it comes to him because his game is better suited for the pros than for college:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“He’s gonna be the number one pick in the NBA Draft,” started Greenberg. “In the NBA, there’s spacing and the 24-second clock. He’s playing with no space right now, but when he gets to an NBA roster, there will be tremendous space. The spacing Duke is playing with is hurting him because people are game-planning to get the ball out of his hands. You can’t do that in the NBA.”</blockquote>



<h2>NBA Teams Will Win By Losing</h2>



Flagg stands at 6-foot-9, and he’s going to keep getting better. He can play both forward spots and even at the five, and his ability to stretch the floor and create for others makes him a unique prospect.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241202_BUS_284783_Cooper-Flagg-1024x576_9f7367d5.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-278552" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on November 22, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. </figcaption></figure>



Through seven games, he’s averaging 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals. and 1.4 blocks per game. On the downside, he’s shooting just 27% from three-point range, but again, he should benefit from the NBA’s spacing.


 

 


As of now, the 2-16 Washington Wizards look poised to be in the mix to get him all season long, and so will the 4-17 New Orleans Pelicans, 4-16 Utah Jazz, and 4-14 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a>.



The fans never want to lose, but when the light at the end of the tunnel is a potential generational superstar like Flagg, it might be worth enduring a tough season just to get him.

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ESPN expert explains why Cooper Flagg will be an NBA star

Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg - Page 2