Duke men’s basketball coach Jon Scheyer has defended Cooper Flagg’s performance in the game against Clemson on Feb. 8, 2025.
Flagg and the Blue Devils were not at their best as the Tigers played a strong game to beat the No. 2-ranked team in the country.
Flagg, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, played 38 minutes but struggled in the early stages.
Jon Scheyer Defends Cooper Flagg Despite Struggling Against Clemson
The 6’9″ Flagg scored only two of his first 11 shots and had four points with about six minutes remaining. Although he later scored 14 of Duke’s final 17 points to finish with 18, Flagg missed 11 of his 17 shots.
However, despite his inefficiency, Scheyer insists Flagg is allowed an off day given how much he does for the team on offense and defense.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer postgame after the loss to Clemson: “Give them all the credit in the world.” Says they knew Clemson would give them a battle and compliments Brad Brownell and his program pic.twitter.com/pH2wJqt7C8
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) February 9, 2025
Scheyer continued on Flagg’s performances.
“Well, I just think it’s his competitiveness coming out and you know we’ve put so much on his shoulders and I have to help some of that off,” Scheyer said.
Scheyer went further to say it’s his job and that of the whole team to help Flagg recover and get back to his best.
“You know just because there’s so much for him defensively, offensively, I think that it’s time we just got to get his body refreshed, reenergized. He didn’t have that same pop even the last couple of days in practice,” Scheyer continued.
“We gotta get him back. I gotta help him with that because for him, I mean here’s a kid who should have been in high school, has not his best game 18 and five, like he’s just a special guy but I think we know with him, there’s more there that we have to help him recover, Scheyer added.
Cooper Flagg and Duke Still Flying High
Despite his performance against Clemson, Flagg remains one of the best players in the 2024‑25 college basketball season.
The 6‑foot‑9 guard is averaging 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists this season. Even in the loss against Clemson, his 18‑point haul was the third-highest on the floor, behind Tigers’ center Victor Lakhin (22) and teammate Tyrese Proctor (23).
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As for the Blue Devils, they remain the No. 2-ranked team in the country with a 20‑3 record. The loss to the Tigers was their first defeat in 17 games, but they have a chance to bounce back when they take on California on Feb. 13, 2024.
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