Cooper Flagg and Duke are rolling in March Madness. Here’s a look at his best moments
We’re right in the middle of March Madness, and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg is putting on a show. The No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils are looking good and still alive in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. They easily beat 16th-seeded Mount St. Mary’s 93-49 in the first round.
In the second round, Duke got past No. 9 seed Baylor to keep their tournament hopes alive. Now, they’ll face a tough opponent — No. 4 Arizona — in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. While we wait for that game, let’s take a look at some of Flagg’s best moments from his first year at Duke.
Cooper Flagg’s Best Games in His Freshman Season at Duke
Flagg came into college basketball with a lot of hype, but he’s been even better than expected. Here’s a quick look back at some highlights from his first season.
Flagg’s First Career Double-Double Against Army
On Nov. 8, Flagg had his first big game for Duke. He played 25 minutes against Army and scored 13 points with 11 rebounds. He also had three assists, three blocks, and two steals. It was his first double-double, and he had plenty more as the season went on.
Career-High 42 Points Against Notre Dame
On Jan. 11, Flagg had the best scoring night of his young career. He put up an incredible 42 points against Notre Dame. He shot 11-for-14 from the floor (78.6%), which was his best shooting performance of the season.
Big Rivalry Debut Against NC State
Flagg played in his first rivalry game against NC State on Jan. 27. These matchups can be tough for freshmen, but he didn’t seem nervous. Flagg scored 28 points and added seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Duke fans loved seeing him play well in a big rivalry game.
Helping Duke Beat UNC for the First Time
Flagg’s first Duke-UNC game came on Feb. 1. He scored 21 points to help the Blue Devils get a comfortable 87-70 win over their biggest rival. He looked comfortable, adding eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and three steals. Not bad at all for his first-ever Duke-Carolina game.
March Madness Debut vs. Mount St. Mary’s
Flagg played his first NCAA Tournament game on March 21 against Mount St. Mary’s. Even though it was his first time playing in the tournament, he stayed calm. Flagg ended the game with 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, helping Duke get an easy win.
It’s still early, but Flagg already had plenty of highlights in his first season at Duke. Nobody knows exactly what he’ll do next, but Duke fans have a lot to look forward to.
