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David HaleMar 15, 2025, 11:04 PM ET
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- School soccer reporter.
- Joined ESPN in 2012.
- Graduate of the College of Delaware.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No Cooper Flagg, no drawback for No. 1 Duke, which claimed the ACC event championship with a 73-62 win over Louisville on Saturday evening.
Flagg’s first-half ankle damage within the Blue Devils’ event opener towards Georgia Tech changed into the largest storyline surrounding the projected NCAA event 1-seed, however the Blue Devils’ intensity supplied the larger narrative thrust. Duke erased a five-point halftime deficit Saturday evening, dominating on protection in the second one half of to snap Louisville’s 11-game profitable streak.
“It says so much about our toughness as a staff,” middle Khaman Maluach stated. “It says so much concerning the different guys who stepped up in giant moments.”
As trainer Jon Scheyer approved the event championship trophy, Flagg stood towards the again of the level, conserving an “ACC champions” foam placard. He earned cheers from the raucous crowd as he climbed the ladder to chop down his percentage of the online. However past that, Flagg’s general contribution to Duke’s 3 wins in Charlotte used to be two issues in quarter-hour of motion.
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That are meant to alternate as Duke turns its consideration to the NCAA event.
Scheyer have been blunt in acknowledging there used to be little level in pushing Flagg again onto the courtroom for the ACC event after “a excellent sprain” of his ankle in Thursday’s win over Georgia Tech. X-rays got here again unfavourable, and Scheyer stated he noticed actual development in Flagg’s restoration during the weekend. Flagg did not stroll with a noticeable limp within the postgame celebrations, however he did not undergo any pregame warmups Saturday both.
Duke showed to the NCAA variety committee that Flagg’s damage wasn’t severe, and he’s absolutely anticipated to play, easing any considerations concerning the Blue Devils’ seeding within the NCAA event.
“I do not know who stated that,” Scheyer stated after Saturday’s win. “I did not say that immediately, however that is precisely my aim. It is trending in a good way the place Cooper might be in a position to move in an instant within the NCAA event.”
Duke’s Kon Knueppel earned event MVP honors after scoring 18 issues in Saturday’s ACC event ultimate. Jim Dedmon/Imagn Photographs
With out Flagg for the previous 3 video games, it used to be Duke’s two different projected lottery selections from its freshman elegance who treated trade. Kon Knueppel gained event MVP honors, scoring 18 issues to move with 8 rebounds in Saturday’s win over the Cardinals. Maluach used to be a power on protection during the event run, and he used to be most likely the largest think about stifling Louisville’s offense in the second one half of of the identify recreation. Maluach completed Saturday with 8 issues, 10 rebounds and two blocks, as he totaled 28 forums and 8 blocks in 3 event video games.
“I see it each day, and I understand how precious they’re,” Scheyer stated. “However you do must step as much as do extra. Cooper simply does such a lot for us. Kon’s actually been our go-to man. To peer the flexibility of different guys stepping up like Khaman. However I informed them, you wouldn’t have to do the rest particular. You need to do the straightforward issues actually smartly, and the ones particular performs will naturally occur, and that’s the reason precisely what came about for Khaman and Kon.”
If there used to be any doubt about Flagg’s true have an effect on, regardless that, it used to be noticed much less in the truth that Duke held the trophy on the finish of this event than in the way it came about. Within the common season, Duke gained 13 of its 20 ACC video games by means of 20 issues or extra. In Charlotte, it trailed Georgia Tech on the half of, just about blew an enormous lead towards North Carolina and needed to come again from a halftime deficit towards Louisville on Saturday.
Flagg wasn’t the adaptation, however he did supply a wholesome margin. Studying to reside with out that, Scheyer stated, may well be the most important because the Blue Devils transfer directly to their subsequent, larger function.
“We have approached the entire yr to complete what is proper in entrance of you,” Scheyer stated. “For us to be examined those remaining 3 video games the best way we have now, we are going to be told a ton from it. It is going to give us further motivation and classes to transport ahead.”
