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David HaleMar 8, 2025, 09:15 PM ET
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- Faculty soccer reporter.
- Joined ESPN in 2012.
- Graduate of the College of Delaware.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Duke performed with out Cooper Flagg for almost 10 mins within the first half of, and because the Blue Devils’ “ran out of gasoline,” in line with trainer Jon Scheyer, they fumbled away a 15-point lead and went into the get a divorce only one on North Carolina.
Scheyer’s message when the workforce hit the locker room: “That is nice.”
For a workforce that had received 5 of its previous six video games by means of no less than 30 issues getting into Saturday evening’s regular-season finale towards the rival Tar Heels, Scheyer was once very happy to peer Duke handle some adversity — one thing the Blue Devils did down the stretch, thundering to an 82-69 win over UNC to safe the No. 1 seed in subsequent week’s ACC event.
“We by no means wish to be the hunted,” Scheyer mentioned. “On occasion, whilst you communicate an excessive amount of about what a workforce is attempting to do, you develop into the hunted. We wish to be the hunters. We need to proceed to try this. From right here on out, it is end-of-season time if you happen to lose. We need to be able to move.”
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That adversity confirmed up with 3 early fouls on Flagg, together with a price that despatched him to the bench for the general 3:18 of the half of. With their centerpiece sidelined, the Blue Devils struggled to get stops, and UNC chipped away at an enormous deficit to drag to inside of some extent.
The second one half of opened with extra scoring from the Tar Heels, who went up by means of seven with 15:44 left, however that is when the adversity discovered a correct adversary in an emotional Flagg.
Flagg performed the second one half of with 3 fouls and nonetheless ruled on protection, racking up 4 blocks to key the Blue Devils’ comeback. He completed with 15 issues, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. After a number of key performs down the stretch, together with a monster dunk, he flexed and performed to the opposed crowd.
“It is with reference to entering a rhythm, entering the sport,” Flagg mentioned. “I feel I am at my absolute best when I am enjoying with power, enjoying with a prime motor. Having the ones power performs, being prime for my teammates, for myself, having that power is contagious. I used to be seeking to deliver that during the second one half of.”
UNC hardly ever attacked Flagg early in the second one half of, one thing he mentioned was once sudden.
“It might’ve been sensible,” Flagg mentioned.
And but, it will now not have mattered. Scheyer mentioned he’d have performed Flagg regardless, telling his freshman to be competitive however now not “handsy.”
“You fear about him enjoying hesitant and now not being himself,” Scheyer mentioned. “For him to get 4 blocks whilst having the 3 fouls was once giant time. He was once able to play. He simply sought after it virtually an excessive amount of.”
In a while, Scheyer made the case for Flagg to win nationwide participant of the yr honors, noting the myriad tactics he affects a recreation — one thing that was once on show right through Duke’s second-half run Saturday.
“I do not believe we now have noticed that during faculty in a very long time,” Scheyer mentioned, “and that is the reason what he does. However that is not what Cooper performs for.”
Duke additionally were given assist from Maliq Brown, who delivered two giant 3-pointers after lacking 3 weeks as a result of a shoulder harm, and Caleb Foster, whose layup with 10:19 to move ignited a Duke run.
For Scheyer, the combo of bench manufacturing right through Flagg’s first-half go out and overcoming the second-half deficit proved once more that his workforce can to find plentiful tactics to win.
For the Tar Heels, the loss guarantees they will be a hunter within the ACC event. After a 17-point loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 1, the Heels received seven in their subsequent 8 to go back to the NCAA event bubble. However Saturday’s loss most probably has UNC at the outdoor taking a look in, wanting to win no less than a few convention event video games — and perhaps the entire thing — subsequent week.
“I have been pleased with how this workforce has reacted,” Tar Heels trainer Hubert Davis mentioned. “I do not believe that is going to modify in any respect. We’re going to regroup and be able to move.”
If he needs the Blue Devils to stay the hunters, Scheyer will most probably want to steer clear of taking a look on the standings. Duke secured the ACC’s regular-season identify with the win, however blended with Auburn’s 93-91 loss to Alabama on Saturday, it is most probably the Blue Devils may even input the convention event because the No. 1 workforce within the nation.
“Now we have by no means mentioned being No. 1 … as opposed to when this factor is all mentioned and performed,” Scheyer mentioned. “Simply my good fortune to be No. 1 going into the postseason. However we make it about completing what is proper in entrance people, doing our absolute best within the second, and if we do this, by means of the top, we wish to be 1 when it is performed.”
