Projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick and national player of the year candidate Cooper Flagg continued his standout NCAA Tournament debut, helping lead Duke to a 100-93 win over Arizona in the Sweet 16.
Flagg finished with 30 points, his second-highest output of the season behind a 42-point game against Notre Dame, as the No. 1 seed Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight. Arizona was led by veteran guard Caleb Love, a fifth-year senior with significant tournament experience.
Is Cooper Flagg Playing Tonight?
Following his performance against Arizona, Flagg became just the second player since 1986 to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in an NCAA Tournament game.
“He just did what he was supposed to do, and he’ll move on and get ready for Alabama,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said.
Flagg suffered an ankle injury shortly before the tournament began during the ACC Tournament, but has not missed a game since returning. Through three rounds, he’s averaging 20.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game.
There have been no new reports of injury, and Flagg is expected to play when Duke faces No. 2 seed Alabama in the Elite Eight.
What to Expect from Duke in the Elite Eight
Duke entered the tournament as one of the favorites and has lived up to that billing. But Alabama presents a unique challenge.
While Duke battled past Arizona, Alabama was rewriting the record books. The Crimson Tide knocked down 25 three-pointers in their Sweet 16 win over BYU, breaking Loyola Marymount’s 1990 NCAA Tournament record of 21. Alabama attempted more than 50 shots from beyond the arc in the game—a volume Duke will need to be prepared for.
While Flagg’s 30-point showing turned heads, Alabama’s Mark Sears delivered a similarly electric performance, scoring 34 points with 10 threes and eight assists against BYU.
“I was just in a zone. Once I saw the first 3 fall in, I felt the basket was as big as an ocean. And every time I shot, I felt like it was going in. I just lost myself in the game and let everything else happen,” Sears said.
Still, Duke has proven its dominance throughout the tournament. The Blue Devils won their first two games by an average of 33.5 points, beating Mount St. Mary’s 93-49 in the opening round and Baylor 89-66 in the second. They followed that with a hard-fought seven-point win over Arizona.
Flagg has been far from alone. Duke’s depth has been on display with Kon Knueppel scoring 20 against Arizona, Sion James adding 16, and Khaman Maluach contributing 13. That supporting cast may be key to countering Alabama’s long-range attack.
KEEP READING: NCAA Tournament Evolution
Following the win over Arizona, Duke is back in the Elite Eight for the second straight year. And with Flagg leading the way, fans believe this could be the year the Blue Devils return to the Final Four.
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