Many times, when all eyes are focused on a player or a team, if the outcome isn’t what was expected, it can turn out to be counterproductive. This is what happened last night with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Cooper Flagg</a>, who, after missing the shot that could have given the Duke Blue Devils a victory over the Houston Cougars, couldn’t hide his frustration with the result.


 


Flagg once again delivered a stellar performance for his team. Consistently leading in the stats, the star of Jon Scheyer’s squad could have sealed the Duke Blue Devils’ spot in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">NCAA</a> Tournament final, but the final play didn’t go as expected, and it was the Cougars who will face the Gators to decide the new champion.



Once the game ended, the Newport native spoke in the press conference about the key play that could have changed the final outcome for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Blue Devils</a> in this thrilling March Madness.



“It’s the play Coach drew up,” Flagg said after the game. “Took it into the paint. Thought I got my feet set, rose up. Left it short, obviously. A shot I’m willing to live with in the scenario.”



<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_20250406_BUS_371010_Cooper-Flagg-11-1024x576_9d0f7cd7.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-371018" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06102223/Cooper-Flagg-11.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>J’Wan Roberts #13 of the Houston Cougars defends the shot attempt of Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the Final Four game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on April 05, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. </figcaption></figure>



<h2>Jon Scheyer’s strong self-criticism</h2>



In losses, there are often those who take responsibility for the game’s outcome. In this case, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball/duke-hc-jon-scheyer-offers-strong-5-word-self-criticism-after-final-four-loss-to-houston">Duke coach Jon Scheyer offered a strong 5-word self-criticism</a> after the Final Four loss to Houston.


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The consistent play of his team couldn’t be sustained, and consecutive turnovers gave the Cougars the opportunity to take the lead toward the end of the game. This is where Scheyer realized he didn’t reach his players in the right way to close out the game.


 


“I didn’t help them enough,” the head coach said. After the painful defeat, Duke was left without the chance to reach the March Madness final, something that many had taken for granted at the start of the season.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67f291010c8fd1e7fdf26cff" data-title="How would you assess Duke\&apos;s season?" data-options="4"></div>

Cooper Flagg makes strong statement on missing Duke’s final shot vs Houston

The greatest March Madness coaches of all time: Who built the best dynasties?

Top seeds making history: Reaching the final four and winning the NCAA tournament

Cooper Flagg makes strong statement on missing Duke's final shot vs Houston - Bolavip US

miniaturas

The dream of becoming the new <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">NCAA</a> champions finally came to an end for the Duke Blue Devils. The defeat at the hands of the Houston Cougars left Jon Scheyer‘s squad empty-handed, and it was the head coach himself who took full responsibility after the game.


 


Perhaps the final score of 70-67 doesn’t fully reflect the flow of the game, where <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Cooper Flagg</a>‘s team was slightly better than their opponents in several stretches. However, key mistakes from Duke led to a 25-9 run for the Cougars, who took full advantage of the situation.



Scheyer didn’t hide his frustration after his team’s elimination from this March Madness and, in a press conversation, delivered a strong five-word self-criticism: “I didn’t help them enough,” the head coach said.



Could more have been contributed from the sideline in moments of struggle? Perhaps. In any case, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Duke</a> showed it was up to the task despite the defeat, handling the situation with professionalism and already thinking about what’s next.



<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_20250406_BUS_370988_Duke-Blue-Devils-1-1024x576_169c6cdb.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Duke Blue Devils" class="wp-image-370998" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/06091938/Duke-Blue-Devils-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils talks with the team against the Houston Cougars during the second half in the Final Four game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on April 05, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.</figcaption></figure>



“This is part of it. You’ve got handle the wins, and you’ve got to handle the losses too,” Jon Scheyer also added.


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<h2>The disappointment with the final result</h2>



Losses are always painful, even more so when the outcome was favorable for much of the game. This was one of the main reasons why coach Jon Scheyer ended up disappointed with how the game against the Cougars unfolded.



“It’s been a special ride that ended in a heartbreaking way. Frankly, the game, we did what we wanted to do. I thought our guys followed the game plan, controlled the game, we had the lead for 35 minutes,” Scheyer said to the press. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s incredibly disappointing. There’s a lot of pain that comes with this.


 


“That’s what the tournament is all about. You’re an inch away from the national championship game,” he finally concluded.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67f285400c8fd1e7fdf26cfc" data-title="Will the Blue Devils be contenders next season?" data-options="3"></div>

Duke HC Jon Scheyer offers strong 5-word self-criticism after Final Four loss to Houston

March Madness 2025: Ranking all 68 teams in the NCAA tournament

Duke HC Jon Scheyer offers strong 5-word self-criticism after Final Four loss to Houston - Bolavip US

We’re living in the era of unicorns, at least with what pertains to basketball. It’s all about positionless basketball and big players who can put the ball on the floor and knock down threes.



That’s why <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg</a> is such a unique and promising prospect. He’s a forward trapped in the body of a big man, much like elite scorers with a long wingspan like Kevin Durant.



Over the past year, he’s drawn comparisons to Andrei Kirilenko and Kevin Garnett. Nevertheless, an unnamed Western Conference executive believes he’s more similar to Jayson Tatum.



<h2>Executive compares Cooper Flagg to Jayson Tatum</h2>



“Both of them at Duke presented really positively as guys that were going to have a couple of off-ramps to be super successful,” the exec told ESPN. “We’re seeing that with Flagg recently, he’s had poor shooting nights like against [Alabama in the Elite Eight], and still was super impactful [toward] winning. … People questioned both of their shots, which turned out to be a silly concern, probably. They both have really good feel offensively in a way that’s just uncommon for their size and usage.”



<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_20250404_BUS_369459_Cooper-Flagg-Duke-1024x576_5a354972.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-315502" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2</figcaption></figure>



Of course, they’re both from the same program, so they should be very proud of this comp. Then again, as great a player as Tatum is, he’s not the same type of player Flagg is.


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Flagg actually has a higher upside as a defender, and while Tatum is a superstar, the Maine native has the potential to be one of the greatest players to ever lace them up.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67eeda350c8fd1e7fdf26c2e" data-title="Will Flagg be a superstar in the NBA?" data-options="2"></div>

Cooper Flagg draws comparison to another Duke and NBA superstar

Cooper Flagg draws comparison to another Duke and NBA superstar - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils had the most talked-about prospect in all of college basketball. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg</a> became the new great white hope, and he has delivered big-time.



The Maine native had been the most spectacular player in the nation this season, and it hasn’t been particularly close. As such, he’s projected to be the first overall pick in the 2025 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft.



Nevertheless, an unnamed Western Conference executive isn’t so sure about his bag as a scorer. Talking to ESPN, he questioned his ability to get buckets down the stretch. 



<h2>Executive is worried about Cooper Flagg’s shot-creation </h2>



“The question about Flagg has always been: How deep is his bag as a shot creator,” asked the executive. “Is he a guy who can go get you a bucket in the late clock? Can you run your offense through him and expect him to be a go-to guy in money time?. Early in the season, I would have said no. He was at his best in the mid-post. There was a lot of bully ball, jump stops and spin moves. He was primarily looking to get to his pull-up when his first move was cut off. It looked a little bit mechanical, a little predetermined.”



<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_20250404_BUS_369457_Cooper-Flagg-Duke-1024x576_9295ee20.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-315502" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/17103805/Cooper-Flagg-Duke.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2</figcaption></figure>



Of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect prospect, not even someone as well-rounded as Flagg. There will obviously be some speed bumps along the way, just like with all rookies.


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But even if this is a valid concern, there are more than enough reasons to believe that Flagg will be the next big thing in the NBA, and he has everything it takes to be one of the faces of the league. 


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March Madness: NBA executive shows huge concern about Cooper Flagg

March Madness: NBA executive shows huge concern about Cooper Flagg - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils are the best team in the nation right now. As such, expectations are as high as they’ve ever been for Jon Scheyer’s team ahead of the Final Four.



Then again, as dominant as they’ve been for most of the season, they will have their work cut out for them in their upcoming matchup against the top-ranked Houston Cougars.



With that in mind, Coach Scheyer tipped his hat to Houston and his colleague Kelvin Samson, knowing that they would be a very difficult opponent to get past on Saturday.



<h2>Jon Scheyer praises Houston and Kelvin Samson</h2>



“You watch Houston play and you say, ‘All right, we have to get back to work,‘” Scheyer said. “Because they are a special team, they haven’t lost in a long time, obviously. The job that Kelvin Samson has done as a coach in their program, we know him very well. We’ve played him last year, and we played him the year before in a scrimmage. So very quickly it is back to work for us and all about the preparation.”



<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_20250403_BUS_369487_Jon-Scheyer-2-1024x576_cdff0662.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Jon Scheyer Duke Blue Devils HC" class="wp-image-366655" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30084059/Jon-Scheyer-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils</figcaption></figure>



Of course, Duke is the most talked-about team in the nation right now because of their dominance and<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Cooper Flagg</a>, but anything can happen in March Madness in a win-or-go-home situation.


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The game will tip off on Saturday night, and while the Blue Devils are still the odds-on favorites to go the distance this season, this will be their toughest challenge yet.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67eedaf40c8fd1e7fdf26c33" data-title="Who will win?" data-options="2"></div>

March Madness: Jon Scheyer has big things to say about Houston ahead of Final Four clash

March Madness: Jon Scheyer has big things to say about Houston ahead of Final Four clash - Bolavip US

Long before the start of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a> season, even non-hoops fans were raving about <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg</a>. He was – and still is – the most talked-about player in the nation.



However, as great as he’s been for the Duke Blue Devils, basketball is still a team sport. Also, he’s atop every team’s scouting report, so someone else has to step up as well.



That’s why an unnamed NCAA coach tipped his hat to Kon Knueppel, calling him an ‘awesome Robin’ and highlighting him as Jon Scheyer’s team’s actual unsung hero.



<h2>Kon Knueppel is the perfect Robin to Cooper Flagg’s Batman</h2>



“Knueppel is such an awesome Robin,” one opposing coach familiar with Duke told CBS Sports. “There’s a real Cam Spencer vibe to him in that he’s such a good catch-and-shoot shooter that you have to get all the way to him on a touch. And he’s got such a great shot-fake and such great footwork that, when it’s an even advantage on a drive, he footworks his way to his advantage.”



<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_20250403_BUS_369454_Kon-Knueppel1-1024x576_1f596207.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-314291" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/15153811/Kon-Knueppel1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Kon Knueppel #7 of the Duke Blue Devils </figcaption></figure>



Like Flagg, Kon Knueppel is now fully expected to be a first-round pick in the 2025<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> Draft, and he should most definitely be in the talk to be a top-ten selection.


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Besides his talents, embracing his role and knowing when and what to do next to a fellow star also speaks volumes about his maturity and mindset, and that usually translates to success at the next level. 


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67eeda0d0c8fd1e7fdf26c2d" data-title="Who will have the better career?" data-options="2"></div>

NCAA analyst reveals Duke’s secret weapon, and it’s not Cooper Flagg

NCAA analyst reveals Duke's secret weapon, and it's not Cooper Flagg - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Duke Blue Devils</a> took another step toward their goal of claiming the NCAA National Championship, punching their ticket to the Final Four. Led once again by the extraordinary talent of Cooper Flagg, Jon Scheyer‘s squad dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide, securing their spot as one of the final four teams in this year’s March Madness.


 


Heading into the game, defeating Alabama didn’t seem like an easy task—especially after their standout performance in the Sweet 16, where they set a historic mark by hitting 25 three-pointers in their victory over BYU.



After Duke’s commanding 85-65 victory over their rivals, Scheyer spoke with the press and revealed the key factors that helped his team overcome a tough challenge at this stage of the tournament.



“For us, we’re at our best at protecting our paint and making a lot of our threes from spray outs. I thought we did a great job with controlling the ball, keeping them out of the paint as much as you can, and our guys were disciplined the whole way,” Scheyer said to Andy Katz of TBS Sports.



<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_20250330_BUS_366652_Duke-Blue-Devils-4-1024x576_e8dbf11d.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Duke Blue Devils" class="wp-image-366663" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/30090639/Duke-Blue-Devils-4.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils hugs Cooper Flagg #2 against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the East Regional Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Prudential Center on March 29, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Defending Alabama’s onslaught</h2>



At this stage of the competition, Alabama undoubtedly stood as one of the top contenders for the title, especially after their remarkable performance against BYU. That night, a barrage of three-pointers set a historic milestone in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">College Basketball</a>, meaning the Blue Devils had to be extra vigilant against it.


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The HC’s strategy worked to perfection, limiting his opponent to just 8 of 32 attempts from beyond the arc. Grant Nelson was held to just 10 points, and perhaps just as importantly, Duke managed to keep their opponent to the lowest point total of the entire season.



Jon Scheyer crafted a game plan that worked to perfection, relying on his team’s solid defensive effort. From here on out, it remains to be seen what lies ahead as they aim for a spot in the March Madness championship game.


 


<h2>What’s next for the Blue Devils?</h2>



With their spot in the Final Four secured, the Blue Devils await their opponent between the Houston Cougars and the Tennessee Volunteers. The game will take place in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, April 5th.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67e945480c8fd1e7fdf26ac5" data-title="How far will the Blue Devils go in March Madness?" data-options="3"></div>

Blue Devils HC Jon Scheyer makes major admission after victory vs Alabama

2025 Men’s March Madness: Complete NCAA tournament schedule and locations

NCAAB News: Blue Devils HC Jon Scheyer makes major admission after victory vs Alabama - Bolavip US

NCAAB News: Blue Devils HC Jon Scheyer makes major admission after victory vs Alabama

The Duke Blue Devils are the best team in all of<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> college basketball</a> right now. Led by freshmen <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg </a>and Kon Knueppel, they’re the odds-on favorites to win the national championship.



However, even good things can be great, and this team isn’t the exception to that rule. Defensive ace Maliq Brown has been out with an injury, but he’s inching closer to a return.



According to coach Jon Scheyer, Brown could be available for their Sweet 16 matchup with the Arizona Wildcats, and he was even able to partake in their pre-game shootaround. 



<h2>Duke could have Maliq Brown back on the court</h2>



“There’s a chance he could be available tomorrow night,” Scheyer said.



<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_20250327_BUS_365141_Jon-Scheyer-1-1024x576_b6e799b4.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Jon Scheyer Duke Blue Devils HC" class="wp-image-361065" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head Coach John Scheyer </figcaption></figure>



Needless to say, that would be a huge boost for Scheyer and company, as the Wildcats are a very tough offensive team. Led by former UNC star Caleb Love, they will be no pushovers.


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Even so, given the way the Blue Devils have played this season, it’s hard to believe anybody would take them down. Still, anything can happen in a win-or-go-home situation.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67e5a034e70a37cf621484e0" data-title="Will Duke win the title?" data-options="2"></div>

March Madness: Duke could get huge injury boost ahead of Sweet Sixteen clash

March Madness: Duke could get huge injury boost ahead of Sweet Sixteen clash - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils are the best team in the nation right now. They’re the No. 1 seed for a reason, and they’ve crushed their way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.



Nonetheless, they’re not undefeated, and anything can happen in a win-or-go-home situation, which is why some are worried about their lack of experience at this stage.



Even so, as much as he acknowledges that they’ve been in some close games and have failed to execute at times,<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Cooper Flagg </a>believes that has only helped them build some character.



<h2>Cooper Flagg is unbothered by the skepticism</h2>



“I think what I would say is that we had some early close games,” Flagg said. “We’ve had some moments that we’ve been in throughout this year that I think we’ve kind of taken and learned from. And some were losses, I think all three of them. We had some good late-game situations that we definitely watched a lot of film on and learned from. I think just by executing and taking what we learned from those games.”



<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_20250327_BUS_365126_Cooper-Flagg-5-1024x576_e2055438.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-357345" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/17123556/Cooper-Flagg-5.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils</figcaption></figure>



Flagg has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and he’s taken his game up a notch in the tournament. Despite being a freshman, he’s clearly not afraid of big moments.


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Also, he knows this will be his only shot to win a National Championship before declaring for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft, so there’s clearly plenty of additional motivation right there. 


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="67e59ff4e70a37cf621484df" data-title="Will Duke win the National Championship?" data-options="2"></div>

Cooper Flagg sends a blunt message to Duke doubters

Cooper Flagg sends a blunt message to Duke doubters - Bolavip US

Young forward <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg</a> hadn’t played a single minute of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a>, and people were already talking about him being the first overall pick in the 2025 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft.



Fast forward to today, and that narrative hasn’t changed one bit. He’s averaged 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game for the season, leading his team in all major categories.



That’s why it’s not a surprise to see the Duke Blue Devils star being a finalist for the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year. As reported by Kevin Barbo of Athlon Sports, winning the award would make him a part of a very exclusive club.



<h2>Cooper Flagg can join a very exclusive club</h2>



“If Flagg were to win the award, he’d become just the fourth men’s basketball player to win the award as a freshman, joining Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012) and Zion Williamson (2019),” wrote Borba. “Counting the women’s side, he would also become the fifth freshman to ever win the award, as UConn’s Paige Bueckers won the award for her stellar 2021 season.”



<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_20250326_BUS_363398_Cooper-Flagg-9-1024x576_1d7819b5.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-361730" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/23103007/Cooper-Flagg-9.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils </figcaption></figure>



Needless to say, that’s a very elite group of players to be a part of. And if that’s a predictor for success in the pros, then Flagg is going to be an NBA star in no time at all.


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Of course, he needs to win the award first, but judging by the way he’s played this season and his unmatched popularity, it would be very difficult to bet against him right now.

Cooper Flagg can make NCAAB history with 2025 Naismith Trophy nomination

Cooper Flagg can make NCAAB history with 2025 Naismith Trophy nomination - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils got by just fine in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg’s</a> brief absence. He sustained an ankle injury that raised plenty of concerns, but he has shown no signs of slowing down because of that.



Then, in his team’s second-round NCAA Tournament win over Baylor, he was inadvertently poked in the eye. He held his fiance and was bleeding and had a swollen face.



That’s why some people were worried about him ahead of his team’s Sweet 16 clash with Arizona. Flagg, however, was completely unbothered by the poked eye, and he’s going to be fully available. 



<h2>Cooper Flagg shuts down injury concerns ahead of Sweet 16 clash</h2>



“Yeah, I’m all good. My eye feels pretty good right now,” Flagg said after the game. He finished the game with 18 points, nine boards, six assists, and one block in 29 minutes, so he wasn’t limited by it at all. 



<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_20250325_BUS_363399_Cooper-Flagg-7-1024x576_a884ce05.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-361059" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22073843/Cooper-Flagg-7.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils</figcaption></figure>



The projected first-overall pick of the 2025 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft has been efficient since he returned from his ankle injury. He’s exceeded all expectations so far, and he’s going to continue to be crucial to his team’s aspirations.


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Flagg was recently named a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award, and given the way he’s played, it’s very hard to envision anybody else beating him for that distinction.

March Madness: Cooper Flagg gets brutally honest on his eye injury ahead of Duke’s Sweet 16 matchup with Arizona

March Madness: Cooper Flagg gets brutally honest on his eye injury ahead of Duke's Sweet 16 matchup with Arizona - Bolavip US

Undoubtedly, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Cooper Flagg</a>’s presence in College Basketball has skyrocketed this season, thanks to his exceptional skills on the court. His decision to join the Duke Blue Devils had one key factor behind it, a standout figure who distinguished from the rest of the programs to secure the NCAA jewel.


 


The figure in question is the team’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, who managed to stand out above the rest when it came to convincing Flagg to join the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Blue Devils</a> for this season.



In a recent conversation with the media, Flagg finally revealed the main reason behind his decision to start his college career at Duke, rather than at other programs that were also trying to recruit him.



“He comes from not telling me what I want to hear,” Flagg said, per Josh Graham vis his official X account (Formerly Twitter) @JoshGrahamShow. “Some of the things that I was looking for in a coach that wasn’t just going to tell me what I wanted to hear,” he also added.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">“He comes from not telling me what I want to hear.” Cooper Flagg spoke about what separated Jon Scheyer from the other coaches who recruited him. <a href="https://t.co/yALjPK24uq">pic.twitter.com/yALjPK24uq</a>— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshGrahamShow/status/1903533897637355701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



“…My parents and my AAU coach they definitely wouldn’t let me get too full of myself. I think that’s what I look for in a coach. Tough love and honesty. I think it just comes from that,” Flagg continued. “He watched a lot of my games, and we would talk after some of them. Telling me what he (Scheyer) saw, rather than what I wanted to hear.”


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<h2>Duke, the team to beat</h2>



After their dominant win in the March Madness debut against Mount St. Mary’s, the Blue Devils have undoubtedly become the team to beat. With Cooper Flagg’s return to the court, Jon Scheyer’s squad is emerging as one of the serious title contenders.



Following an excellent regular-season campaign, Duke doesn’t want to leave anything to chance in these stages and aims to dethrone the UConn Huskies to become the new champions of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">College Basketball</a>.


 


It will be a matter of seeing how far Scheyer and his players will go, as they didn’t make it this far to be mere supporting actors; they want to be the new main characters in this story.

Cooper Flagg reveals the main reason he joined the Duke Blue Devils

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg reveals the main reason he joined the Duke Blue Devils - Bolavip US

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg reveals the main reason he joined the Duke Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils‘ debut in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">NCAA</a> Tournament was not only rewarding, as Jon Scheyer’s squad secured a victory over Mount St. Mary’s, but it also marked the return of their star, Cooper Flagg, to the court after just over a week.


 


Much has been said in recent days about the potential presence of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Flagg</a> in Duke’s debut in this prestigious tournament, and fortunately for them, not only did the star return, but he did so in the best possible way—showing no signs of discomfort in the ankle that had been troubling him.



“I think what I would say is I’ve done a great job with the medical staff preparing and just being ready,” Flagg stated to the press once the game concluded. “So I already felt completely 100% and confident going into tonight’s game.”



The Maine native finished his game with stats worthy of one of the league’s best players: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and a pair of blocked shots, after playing 22 minutes.



<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_20250322_BUS_361053_Cooper-Flagg-8-1024x576_03953bbb.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-361062" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075243/Cooper-Flagg-8.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles the ball during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers at Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. </figcaption></figure>



<h2>Scheyer’s reflection after Flagg’s return</h2>



After the game, where the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Blue Devils</a> ultimately defeated their opponent with a final score of 93-49, Jon Scheyer took the time to speak with the press and share his thoughts on Cooper Flagg’s return to the court.


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“I’ve been on many sides of this in my playing days, coaching days—you don’t take any game for granted. I think it’s very easy to say, yeah, [Flagg] should just rest. Well, you want to have your best team, and you’re not promised the next game,” Scheyer said. 



“I didn’t think he looked like it, but you have some natural rust. Just the game experience, I think, is really important to understand what the tournament is like,” he also added.


 


Additionally, he praised the team effort that led to a solid victory in their debut: “It was a workmanlike performance by our team. Really good to get our feet wet and understand what the tournament was all about.”



<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_20250322_BUS_361053_Jon-Scheyer-1-1024x576_64d7a7ca.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Jon Scheyer Duke Blue Devils HC" class="wp-image-361065" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/22075923/Jon-Scheyer-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head Coach John Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers at Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>What’s next for the Blue Devils?</h2>



After a commanding victory over Mount St. Mary’s in their March Madness debut, Jon Scheyer’s squad will now face none other than Baylor. The game will be held once again at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg makes major admission after win vs Mount St. Mary’s in NCAA Tournament debut

Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg makes major admission after win vs Mount St. Mary's in NCAA Tournament debut - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils are gearing up to take on the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers in the first round of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/march-madness">March Madness</a>. Barring a historic upset, Duke, the No. 1 seed in the East Region, should advance to the second round and make a deep run. However, the bigger concern lies in Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury, which sidelined him for the ACC Tournament semifinal and championship game.



As the biggest tournament in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">college basketball</a> approaches, the Blue Devils are hoping their star player can be back available and fully healthy during the competition.



Regardless, it may be wise for head coach Jon Scheyer to preserve <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Flagg</a> during the early games—though he’d be taking a risk, it’s a relatively mild one. However, Flagg is eager to be on the court with his teammates as they embark on a challenging run through the East Region.



Ahead of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Duke</a>‘s first test against what should be a very favorable opponent on paper, Cooper Flagg was asked about his health status, leading to a two-word response about his feelings going into the game.



<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_20250320_BUS_360120_Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-1024x576_448cab56.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Jon Scheyer Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-356591" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/16114914/Cooper-Flagg-Jon-Scheyer.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils speaks with Cooper Flagg #2 during the second half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina.</figcaption></figure>



“Pain-free,” Cooper Flagg stated about his ankle injury, as reported by ESPN’s David Hale. Following Flagg’s statement it is believed he will be fully healthy and will participate during the Blue Devils matchup with the Mountaineers.


 

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<h2>Odds are in Duke’s favor</h2>



Whether Flagg is healthy enough to play against Mount St. Mary’s or not, many believe Scheyer should keep the star out of harm’s way and allow him to continue his recovery. After all, Duke is expected to handle the No. 16 seed comfortably, with or without Flagg.



If the Blue Devils were to lose to the Mountaineers, the school in Durham would join an exclusive—and infamous—club, becoming just the third program ever to fall as a No. 1 seed to a No. 16 seed in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/ncaa">NCAA</a> Tournament.



<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_20250320_BUS_360120_GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-1024x576_e59992d2.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils" class="wp-image-268979" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-2128478712-Bolavip.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils </figcaption></figure>



<h3>Historic upsets</h3>



In 2018, the No. 16 UMBC Retrievers handed the Virginia Cavaliers the most humiliating defeat in program history, knocking them out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round. 


 

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Just five years later, the last-seeded FDU Knights pulled off another historic upset by toppling the No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers. Before this year’s tournament began, No. 1 seeds held a dominant 154-2 record against No. 16 seeds.

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg delivers 2-word injury update ahead of Duke’s March Madness debut

Blue Devils icon Jay Bilas makes strong statement about Cooper Flagg ahead of NCAA Tournament

Cooper Flagg draws comparison to NBA Hall of Famer

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg delivers 2-word injury update ahead of Duke's March Madness debut - Bolavip US

Cooper Flagg delivers 2-word injury update ahead of Duke's March Madness debut

The NCAA Tournament is officially underway, and the craziness has only begun with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/march-madness">March Madness</a>. While announcing his 64-team bracket, Phoenix Suns legend Charles Barkley dropped a shocking prediction involving Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils. 



Barkley has played for many teams in the league, though he is mostly recognized for his great years with the Suns, where he won the MVP award in 1995 and led Phoenix to an NBA Finals appearance. However, in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">college basketball</a>, there is only one place he calls home: Auburn.



The former star has been closely following the season as it unfolded, and Bruce Pearl’s program was selected as the No. 1 seed in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/ncaa">NCAA</a> Tournament’s South Region. While he roots for the Tigers through thick and thin, Barkley doesn’t envision the school winning the national championship. However, he did predict that they would make it to the Final Four.



One of the biggest storylines in college basketball revolves around <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Cooper Flagg</a> and the Blue Devils from Durham. As Flagg continues to recover from his ankle injury, hoping to return to the court for Duke’s first-round game on March 21, Barkley made a bold prediction about the school’s fate during March Madness.



<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_20250320_BUS_360027_Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-1024x576_2c28d9f1.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="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" class="wp-image-355012" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/13163041/Cooper-Flagg-2-of-the-Duke-Blue-Devils-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Arizona-Wildcats.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>



According to Barkley’s March Madness bracket, Flagg’s Duke will fall to No. 4 Arizona during the Sweet Sixteen stage. No. 1 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/duke">Duke</a> is the biggest favorite to win the NCAA Tournament, so a loss in the third round would be a devastating blow for Jon Scheyer’s team and the program in Durham.


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<h2>Other predictions</h2>



Barkley is well aware of the frenzy that takes over of college basketball during March Madness, where anything can happen. Therefore, the legendary <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/phoenix-suns">Suns</a>‘ player, issued a series of surprising predictions.



For example, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/charles-barkley">Barkley</a> stated No. 11 in the Midwest region, Xavier, will take down Illinois and Kentucky, the sixth and third seed, respectively, in a Cinderella run to the Sweet Sixteen.



<h2>Barkley’s Final Four</h2>



According to his predicted bracket, Auburn, Florida, Gonzaga, and Arizona will make the Final Four. However, Barkley didn’t let his love for Auburn blind his judgment and stated that the Florida Gators will eliminate the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament semifinal.



<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_20250320_BUS_360027_CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-1024x576_6b21517b.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="CBS commentator Charles Barkley looks on during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal between the Auburn Tigers and the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota." class="wp-image-345534" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/27184711/CBS-commentator-Charles-Barkley-looks-on-during-the-2019-NCAA-Final-Four-semifinal-between-the-Aubur.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>CBS commentator Charles Barkley looks on during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal between the Auburn Tigers and the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. </figcaption></figure>



No. 8 Gonzaga will take down Arizona in the other semifinal matchup, en route to a National Championship Game between the Bulldogs and Gators. Ultimately, according to ‘Chuck,’ the champagne bottles will pop in Gainesville, as the Gators crown themselves champions in his prediction.

Phoenix Suns legend Charles Barkley makes surprising March Madness prediction about Cooper Flagg’s Duke

Phoenix Suns legend Charles Barkley makes surprising March Madness prediction about Cooper Flagg's Duke - Bolavip US

Suns legend Charles Barkley reveals surprising March Madness prediction for Flagg's Duke

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