Cooper Flagg, a Player of the Year finalist, has played well in the NCAA Tournament. What should viewers expect out of Flagg in the Sweet 16 matchup with Arizona?
Flagg Looks to Dominate Wildcats
Despite playing on a sore ankle, Duke freshman standout Flagg remains the engine that keeps the team moving. Heading into their Sweet Sixteen matchup with the Arizona Wildcats, the team will lean on their hobbled freshman to lead the charge.
Against Baylor, Flagg tallied 18 points in a winning effort. Duke is just two victories away from reaching the Final Four. After the game, head coach Jon Scheyer referenced the team’s determination to the Duke Chronicle.
“We’ve been in that enough, where we’ve had an 18-point lead against Notre Dame with a few minutes to go. We were just up 21 at half against [North] Carolina in the ACC Tournament,” Scheyer said. “So, for us, you get one season with this group, you’ve tried to use the experiences we’ve had, and I’ll reference it. I’ll reference those games at halftime, just to make sure we know how precious it is.”
Scheyer referenced the North Carolina game during the ACC Tournament, where the Tarheels mounted a furious comeback that fell short. Flagg remains a vital cog in the machine that won that game and continues through the competition in the tournament.
Easy Like Sunday Morning
From the outside, Flagg’s dominance over Baylor looked like he needed to put out all of the stops and tricks in his bag. Yet, if you hear fellow freshman Kon Knueppel tell it, Flagg’s approach was the product of him toning down his approach and not vice versa. Knueppel discussed this with the Raleigh Observer, stating:
“There’s a simplicity to his game,” Kneuppel said. “That’s a credit to him. People talk about a bag or whatever, but he’s really simplified his game, made his reads easier. So sometimes it does look easy for him, because that’s what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to make it as easy as possible for himself to score.”
Flagg plays above the rim with control and poise, which allows him to escape positional definition. While he stands six-foot-nine, Flagg handles the ball, runs the floor, and shoots from a distance. Flagg adjusted to the college game, making 36.3 percent of his three-point field goals. He plays a determined style that mixes finesse and the power to finish right now. That trait is what truly makes him a standout among other freshmen.
Matchup
Flagg will probably need to contend with Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka. The two cannot play a most divergent brand of basketball. Awaka wants to bang, testing that healing ankle and sore eye from an inadvertent poke. Awaka wants to muscle/bully the Duke standout.
On offense, he constantly wants to bury a should into the Blue Devil’s chest. Meanwhile, on defense, Awake will bring his physical A game as he attempts to contact Flagg constantly. Plus, on the boards, the Arizona sophomore wants to control them, trying to push opponents out of the way.
Overview
No ankle injury or minor eye impediment will deter the Blue Devil phenom from competing against Arizona. In what could end up being his only NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats stand in Duke’s way. Moreover, Flagg’s motivation resides in his desire to be the best. Will his ankle feel healed entirely? Chances are the ankle will probably bark until after the tournament.
KEEP READING: ‘Come Home to Boston!’ – Bill Simmons Has a 5-Year Plan to Bring Cooper Flagg to the Celtics
As a result, a good tape job and treatment will keep the Duke standout moving. On a team filled with elite talent, Flagg stands at the head of the back.
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