Cooper Flagg’s first marquee sport led to catastrophe.
The freshman phenom and potential No. 1 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft turned the ball over twice within the ultimate 20 seconds and people giveaways performed a big position in No. 6 Duke’s 77-72 upset loss to No. 19 Kentucky on Tuesday within the Champions Basic.
Flagg first coughed up the ball with the groups tied at 72-all and Kentucky took the lead on the following possession and he then turned it over once more along with his crew down two with lower than 10 seconds left.
“Coach (Jon Scheyer) has trust in me to go and make a play,” Flagg stated after pacing all scorers with 26 factors. “It didn’t work out. I’m glad he had that trust in me to put the ball in my hands. I’m looking for it in that moment. It didn’t work out. I’m still going to look for it, no matter what.”
Flagg, the No. 1 recruit on this yr’s class, is poised to be the following nice Duke Villain and there was loads of hype surrounding what’s extensively anticipated to be his lone season in Durham.
The 17-year-old is 6-foot-9 with a clean stroke from outdoors and has the tangible ability set and measurement that has some followers hoping their groups tank properly sufficient to land him subsequent yr.
Tuesday marked his first prime-time showdown towards a fellow heavyweight program and Flagg confirmed why he’s so regarded along with his 26-point, 12-rebound effort on 9-of-19 capturing.
But it’s the turnovers that can stand out from this sport.
The primary got here when Flagg misplaced the ball whereas making an attempt to again his option to the ring. Duke dedicated a foul throughout Kentucky’s transition and the Wildcats took a 74-72 lead with 10.3 seconds remaining.
On the following possession, Flagg dribbled into the nook and slipped whereas attempting to make his option to the basket. He misplaced possession of the ball momentarily and the referee dominated he has stepped out of bounds.
One other foul led to a 75-72 deficit earlier than Kentucky tallied an offensive rebound on a missed free throw to all however seal the sport.
Flagg stated he could have slipped on the final play however stated that didn’t matter.
“Whatever happened, that’s not an excuse, got to move forward,” Flagg stated.
Scheyer stated he may have accomplished a greater job to assist his freshman phenom in these conditions and marveled at Flagg’s efficiency, saying he couldn’t be extra pleased with him.
“The ball in his hands. I think they knew that was happening too and I’m OK with that,” Scheyer stated. “We’re going to be in these moments quite a bit collectively and I belief his instincts and I most likely may have put him in a greater place, to be sincere. He’s bought to the touch it and belief that good issues are going to occur and I want you would say that each time it’s going to work out and that’s not actuality.
“I’m just so proud of him, man. What he did in that game — he willed us in that game. … I want him to touch it down the stretch.”
Flagg is averaging 19 factors and 10 rebounds by way of three video games and could have an opportunity for redemption in Duke’s subsequent blockbuster sport on Nov. 22 towards No. 9 Arizona.
