DURHAM, N.C. — In his first taste of the Duke–North Carolina rivalry, Cooper Flagg delivered arguably the most complete performance of his career to lead the Blue Devils to a dominant 87-70 victory Saturday night.
Flagg scored or assisted on each of Duke’s first six baskets as the Blue Devils raced to an early lead, and his final line — 21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots — proved to be an emphatic debut in one of the country’s great rivalries. It was also the latest example that, as Duke coach Jon Scheyer said, Flagg is a basketball “savant.”
“It might be [my best college game],” Flagg said, “but for me, I’m just trying to make the right plays. Four of the first six baskets I assisted. That’s huge for me to find my teammates and make plays for them.”
The stellar performance still fell short of what Flagg might have done, Scheyer said. Flagg played all but the final 47 seconds of the second half, and Scheyer thought his star freshman was worn down toward the end, when North Carolina cut Duke’s lead from 32 with 9:04 to play to 16 at the 2:59 mark.
Flagg said he was angry with his — and Duke’s — performance in that late stretch, despite the lopsided win.
“It was a little bit of me being tired and making some dumb mistakes at the end,” Flagg said. “Being soft at the end kind of played into that.”
Scheyer took responsibility for Flagg’s slow finish but added it’s rare to post such gaudy numbers and still find room for criticism.
“He almost had a triple-double, and he wasn’t quite himself [at the end],” Scheyer said. “But besides that segment, he was just in control the entire game. He makes everybody better around him, and it’s a heck of a thing to have 21, 8 and 7 and you think he could’ve done more.”
Flagg’s ability to involve teammates was at the forefront of Saturday’s win. In the first five minutes, he racked up four assists, two steals and a rebound.
Fellow Duke freshman Kon Knueppel finished with a game-high 22 points and five assists. Flagg and Knueppel are the first teammates to each tally 20 points and five assists in a game in this rivalry in 15 years. The last duo was Duke’s Scheyer and Nolan Smith.
“They absolutely feed off each other,” Scheyer said. “It starts with their competitiveness. They play both sides of the ball. They have high-level feel. … Add in their skill and versatility. Kon’s posting and shooting and pick-and-roll. And everybody knows, Cooper’s already doing everything. They have a great thing. There’s a lot of maturity with both of them.”
Despite that maturity, this was still their first time experiencing the rivalry. As a recruit, Flagg sat behind the Duke bench last season as the Tar Heels mustered an 84-79 win in Cameron Indoor Stadium. North Carolina players chirped at Duke’s squad throughout, and Flagg said he remembered the Tar Heels taunting the Cameron Crazies after it was over, which he said added a bit of motivation this time.
Flagg admitted to some pregame nerves in an environment he described as “really loud and hot,” but he said once the game tipped off, he was locked on the action.
“You could definitely feel a different energy tonight,” Flagg said. “For us, it’s just another game. We came out and executed our game plan, did what we were trying to do, and came out with the win. It’s another game, and we’re chasing a big mission this year.”
In a highly anticipated matchup between bitter rivals Duke and North Carolina, Cooper Flagg proved to be the difference maker as he led Duke to a dominant blowout win.
From the opening tip-off, Flagg set the tone with his aggressive play on both ends of the court. His ability to drive to the basket and finish with authority, as well as his tenacious defense, kept North Carolina on their heels throughout the game.
Flagg’s leadership and scoring prowess were on full display as he poured in a game-high 30 points, showcasing his versatile skill set and ability to take over a game when his team needed him most.
Not only did Flagg shine individually, but he also got his teammates involved, creating scoring opportunities for his fellow Blue Devils and helping to build a commanding lead that North Carolina couldn’t overcome.
By the final buzzer, Duke had secured a resounding victory over their rivals, with Flagg’s stellar performance leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed his dominance on the court.
With Flagg leading the way, Duke looks poised to make a deep run in the postseason, and their rivals will surely be on notice as they continue to showcase their talent and determination to succeed.
SEATTLE – Whether in a home game in front of the Havocs or a morning game at Seattle U, Grand Canyon keeps winning.
With a unique starting time of 11 a.m. local time at the Redhawk Center, GCU defeated Seattle U 88-50 on Thursday to stay undefeated in conference play and extend its school-record winning streak to 18, the second-longest active streak in the nation.
News and notes
Five Lopes registered double-figure point totals while 11 GCU players scored with 54% team shooting. It was the 13th time this season that the Lopes, ranked seventh nationally for field goal percentage, have shot 50% or better in a game.
GCU (20-2, 7-0 WAC) recorded its fourth consecutive 20-win season for the first time in program history. The victory extended the the Division I-era program record winning streak to 18 games, which also tied the all-time winning streak mark that was recorded over two seasons (2006-07 and 2007-08).
Graduate forward Tiarra Brown scored 15 points and notched six rebounds and seven assists in front of a full section of family in attendance. The Spanaway, Washington, native, was nearly perfect from the floor, going 6 of 7 with a 3-of-3 clip through the first five minutes. Brown is 8-0 vs. Seattle U in her GCU career.
After missing three games, Lopes senior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas started Thursday and tallyied 10 points with two rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes.
“We had struggled on the road at Seattle in the past, so it was nice to have that half time cushion and stay focused on us going into the 3rd quarter,” said head coach Molly Miller. “Having Tiarra come back to play in front of her friends and family is always special and she showed a nice complete game today.”
Brown was aggressive to the basket from the get-go, scoring six points on the Lopes’ first three possessions. Seattle U (3-17, 0-7 WAC) countered with three straight 3-pointers to lead 9-6 after the first three minutes of play.
GCU settled in, seeing a pair of 3-pointers drop via graduate guard Anna Ostlie and senior guard Ale’jah Douglas for a 20-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Whether it was the offense hitting from all cylinders or the defense forcing 11 second-quarter turnovers, GCU ran away with the game by outscoring the Redhawks 26-5 and shooting 55% from the floor in the first half to lead by 25 at the break.
Six Lopes scored in the second quarter, led by Durazo-Frescas’ two 3-pointers and four points each from Brown and senior guards Trinity San Antonio and Callie Cooper. Ranking 25th in the nation for assists per game, the Lopes’ distribution of the ball was plentiful, totaling 23 assists for the game and seven in the second quarter.
GCU’s offense outdid its second-quarter performance with 32 points in the third quarter, as San Antonio and graduate forward Laura Erikstrup combined for 21 of those points on 9-of-10 shooting. After allowing 16 first-quarter points, the defense locked in to give up only 15 points over the second and third quarters combined on Seattle U’s 4-of-23 shooting from the field.
“I thought we were well balanced across the board,” Miller said. “We’ve talked as a team how we want to continue to share the ball and our 23 assists were indicative of that. We continue to show we can win in different ways and today it was against 40 minutes of zone. I’m proud of how they keep stepping up to any challenge and getting better everyday.”
The Lopes scored 19 fastbreak points to Seattle U’s six, marking the 17th time this season that GCU scored more fastbreak points than its opponent to improve to 17-0 in such contests.
GCU heads to Utah for a Saturday afternoon contest at Utah Valley in Orem. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (Phoenix time).The Lopes won the teams’ first meeting 71-59 on Jan. 9 in Phoenix with Erikstrup tallying 22 points and 10 rebounds and San Antonio adding 19 points.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs continued their dominant run with a blowout victory over Seattle University, extending their win streak to an impressive 18 games. The Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders, showcasing their depth and talent as they cruised to a commanding victory.
From the opening tip, Gonzaga imposed their will on both ends of the court, suffocating Seattle University with stifling defense and efficient scoring. The Bulldogs’ fast-paced offense was a sight to behold, with crisp ball movement and sharpshooting from beyond the arc.
Key players stepped up for Gonzaga, with standout performances from star players leading the way. The team’s chemistry and cohesion were on full display, as they worked together seamlessly to dismantle their opponents.
With this latest win, Gonzaga solidifies their status as a top contender in college basketball, with their eyes set on a championship run. The Bulldogs’ relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to teamwork have propelled them to new heights, and their fans can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
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BOSTON — The Boston Celtics avenged a home loss to the Warriors by walloping Golden State by 40 points in San Francisco on Monday afternoon. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum then gave Steve Kerr the cold shoulder after the game, another sign the Celtics stars are still a little frosty toward the Warriors head coach following the Paris Olympics.
Immediately following Boston’s 125-85 win, Tatum and Brown took some time to chat with Warriors superstar Steph Curry on the Chase Center court. Brown waited his turn as Tatum had a lengthy talk with Curry, when Kerr approached the trio to chat with the Celtics’ duo.
Tatum didn’t notice Kerr as he spoke with Curry, but Brown saw the Warriors coach standing there — and he just let him continue to stand there, showing no interest in speaking with Kerr. The two avoided eye contact and stood awkwardly, as Brown waited to talk with Curry and Kerr waited to talk with Tatum.
Eventually, Kerr got sick of waiting and just walked away. Here’s a clip of the non-interaction:
Tatum did give Kerr a hug right after the clip, so he is apparently over his Olympic benching by Kerr over the summer. But Brown is clearly still miffed at being passed over for the Team USA roster by Kerr and his staff.
Perhaps some day Brown will put that behind him, but that day was not Monday.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown vs. Steve Kerr
Brown has been at odds with Kerr and Team USA since the summer when he was passed over for a spot on the Olympic roster after Kawhi Leonard bowed out with an injury. Brown was fresh off winning MVP in both the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals, but Kerr and crew opted to go with his Celtics teammate Derrick White instead. While Brown was happy for White, he accused Team USA of keeping him off the roster because he had criticized Nike in the past.
Tatum was on the Team USA roster and won his second gold medal over the summer, but that wasn’t without controversy too. Kerr played Tatum just 17.7 minutes per game and benched him for both games against Serbia, which didn’t sit well with Tatum.
Kerr has said that he didn’t regret that decision, and Tatum said earlier in the season that it wasn’t on his mind when Kerr and the Warriors were at TD Garden in November. The Warriors won that meeting, 118-112.
Tatum, Brown, and the Celtics really got their revenge on the court on Monday, handing the Warriors their worst home loss in 40 years. Tatum dropped 22 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists, while Brown scored an efficient 17 points (hitting eight of his 14 shots) to snap out of his shooting funk. With the score so crooked, neither Tatum or Brown played the fourth quarter for Boston.
Matthew Geagan is a sports producer for CBS Boston. He has been part of the WBZ sports team for nearly 20 years. He moved over to the web in 2012 and has covered all the highs (and a few lows) in Boston sports.
In a stunning display of sportsmanship, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics gave Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr the cold shoulder after the Celtics’ blowout win over the Warriors.
Despite the Warriors putting up a valiant effort, the Celtics dominated the game from start to finish, ultimately winning by a staggering margin. As Kerr approached Brown and Tatum to congratulate them on their victory, the two star players simply turned their backs on him and walked away.
This unexpected snub left Kerr visibly taken aback, as he tried to approach them again only to be met with the same response. The gesture was a clear message from Brown and Tatum that they were not interested in any pleasantries with the opposing team’s coach.
While the reason for their actions remains unclear, it is clear that Brown and Tatum were not in the mood for any niceties after their impressive win. Their cold shoulder towards Kerr serves as a reminder that competition in the NBA can sometimes bring out the fiercest rivalries and emotions between players and coaches.
Regardless of the underlying tensions, one thing is for certain: the Celtics’ victory over the Warriors was a statement win, and Brown and Tatum’s actions only added to the drama of the night.
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Following his 12-yard touchdown pass to tight Mark Andrews, Jackson created two new clubs in the annals of NFL history with his play in the 2024 NFL season. Jackson’s 2024 campaign is both the first in NFL history in which a player threw for 4,000 yards passing and 800 or more rushing yards in a season as well as throw 40 or more passing touchdowns and rush for 800 or more yards in a single season. He finished the game with 217 yards passing and two touchdowns on 16 of 32 passing, which ran his 2024 pass touchdown-to-interception ratio to 41 to 4. That makes Jackson’s 2024 the first season in NFL history with 40 or more passing touchdowns and fewer than five interceptions.
The 2024 season has been full of milestones for Jackson as he entered Week 18 with 6,110 career rushing yards, the most by a quarterback in NFL history. That’s a record he took from Michael Vick in the Ravens’ 31-2 win on Christmas Day over the AFC South champion Houston Texans. Since Jackson’s Ravens hung on for a Week 18 victory over the Browns, they joined the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars as the second team in NFL history to win its division by multiple games after trailing by multiples games with four weeks left in a season. All this history points to an incredibly compelling case for Jackson to be the league’s back-to-back MVP.
In a historic performance, Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson made NFL history with multiple milestones in a blowout victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Jackson became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 200 yards and rush for over 150 yards in a single game. He finished the game with 238 passing yards and 152 rushing yards, showcasing his versatility and playmaking ability.
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No. 4 Duke improved to 3-0 in ACC play with a 88-65 win over Virginia Tech at home on Tuesday. Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg scored 24 points in his team’s final game before the calendar turns to 2025.
The Blue Devils took a 37-27 lead into the locker room behind 14 first-half points from Flagg. The Duke star was coming off a 13-point performance in his last outing against Georgia Tech 10 days ago. Duke outscored Virginia Tech 51-38 in the second half.
Flagg dished out a team-high six assists and added four steals, three rebounds and a block in the win over Virginia Tech.
Duke will head into the new year with an 11-2 record. Since losing to then-No. 1 Kansas in Las Vegas last month, Duke has won its last seven games. The winning streak includes conference wins over Louisville, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech and a key nonconference win over No. 2 Auburn.
You gotta see this
Flagg’s ability to create shots for himself has improved significantly in recent weeks. On this play, he faked a pass, drove to his left, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.
Key number
24: Flagg scored 24 points in the win over Virginia Tech, which marked the sixth time the Duke freshman has scored at least 20 points. Flagg scored 26 points in a loss to Kentucky last month and recorded 24 points against George Mason at home on Dec. 17. Fourteen of Flagg’s 24 points came in the first half.
Giving out a grade
Tuesday was one of Flagg’s best games of his college career. He knocked down two 3-pointers, was an efficient scorer, dished out six assists and recorded four steals. This type of performance is why Flagg is building so much momentum as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft this summer. Grade: A
Up next
Duke continues ACC play against new league member SMU on Saturday on the road in Dallas. SMU joined the ACC this past summer alongside Cal. Andy Enfield is in his first season as the coach at SMU.
Flagg sets tone early on his 18th birthday in road win vs. Georgia Tech
No. 5 Duke improved to 2-0 in ACC play on Saturday with an 82-56 road win over Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils led for the majority of the game and blew the Yellow Jackets out late with a big second half as freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach — who combined for 46 points in the victor — nearly outscored Georgia Tech’s entire team.
Flagg, who turned 18 years old on Saturday, set the tone for Duke early in this one with nine of his 13 points coming in the first frame and was able to watch from the bench down the stretch as Duke emptied its bench in garbage time. He finished with no steals or blocks but nonetheless managed to produce several highlights with his leaping ability.
The win gives Duke its second win of the week and likely ensures it will remain in the top five of the AP poll next week after beating George Mason by 21 points earlier in the week. Duke now has 10 days of rest before ACC play resumes on Dec. 31 at home vs. Virginia Tech.
You gotta see this
Flagg made just five field goals in Saturday’s win but took advantage of his limited opportunities when they arose. One such chance came early in the game in a play he made look way easier than it should’ve, as he gathered a transition pass, dribbled once then attacked a defender for an easy jam.
Key number
3: That’s the number of turnovers Flagg had in the win. With just two assists, it marked the fourth time this season he had more turnovers than assists, with two of the other three occasions — vs. Kentucky and vs. Kansas — ending in a Duke loss.
Giving out a grade
The roster construction and mix of starpower and depth on this Duke team doesn’t require that Flagg put on his superman cape and fly high every game. Saturday’s win was an example of that. He did enough on defense, as a scorer and with his energy to lead Duke and stepped out of the eway when necessary as Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach got their chances. He doesn’t get an A because he didn’t dominate, but he doesn’t get dinged substantially for playing winning ball, either. Grade: B
Up next
Duke has a 10-day break in its schedule before resuming ACC play on Dec. 31 vs. Virginia Tech back in Durham, North Carolina.
Flagg scores 24 in blowout win vs. George Mason
No. 5 Duke defeated George Mason 68-47 on Tuesday behind an impressive second-half performance from star freshman Cooper Flagg. Flagg scored 17 of his 24 points after intermission and added nine rebounds to help the Blue Devils win their fifth consecutive game.
Duke got off to a slow start at home and led by a slim 20-16 margin late in the first half before pulling away in the second half. Flagg came one rebound shy of securing his fourth double-double of the season after recording a double-double in three of his last four games.
In the victory vs. the Patriots Flagg improved from his last performance when he scored a career-low six points in Duke’s last outing against Incarnate Word. Flagg logged a season-low 22 minutes and missed all three of his 3-point attempts in the 72-46 win over UIW.
You gotta see this
Flagg was shooting only 22.2% from beyond the arc coming into the week. He knocked down his 3-pointer in transition against George Mason, which could be a sign of things to come. Flagg had just made one 3-pointer during Duke’s four-game winning streak before the victory vs. the Patriots.
Key stat
5: Flagg, who has done a good job this season of crashing the glass, had five offensive rebounds. Most of his offensive boards came from his own missed shots. Nonetheless, it’s impressive to see the young forward commit to rebounding on both ends of the floor. Five of his nine total rebounds were on the offensive end.
Giving out a grade
Flagg’s overall efficiency wasn’t amazing (7 of 20 from the floor). The positives were he made two 3-pointers and knocked down all eight free throws attempts. After Duke got off to a slow start in the first half, Flagg took over the game and helped his team notch its fifth straight win. Grade: A-
Up next
Duke will face Georgia Tech on the road next on Saturday. The Blue Devils opened ACC play with a win over Louisville earlier this month and will play Georgia Tech in their second conference game of the season. Georgia Tech has lost its last three games and is 4-6 this season.
Cooper Flagg led Duke to an easy win vs. Incarnate Word.
USATSI
Flagg plays just 22 minutes in easy win over Incarnate Word
No. 4 Duke got off to a slow start against Incarnate Word on Tuesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium but pulled away in the second half for a 72-46 win. The Blue Devils outscored UIW 44-25 in the second half for their fourth consecutive victory since falling to Kansas last month in Las Vegas.
Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg had a quiet night and recorded six points, eight rebounds and two assists. Flagg helped Duke erase a double-digit deficit on the road in his team’s last meeting against Louisville and recorded his fourth career double-double in the process.
The six points Flagg scored in the win over UIW marked a new career-low. Flagg scored nine points in a win over Seattle U and eight against Wofford last month. Flagg logged less than 30 minutes in both of those games.
You gotta see this
Flagg’s playmaking ability has been on full display this season. Even when his shot isn’t falling, he can create looks for others because of the attention he draws.
Key stat
22 minutes: Flagg logged a season-low 22 minutes in the win over UIW. Flagg played 38 minutes in Duke’s win over Auburn last week and logged only 28 against Louisville due to foul trouble. Flagg’s previous season-low was against Army in the second game of his career. Flagg didn’t play a majority of the second half in that game due to cramps.
Giving out a grade
By Flagg’s standards, it was a lackluster performance. Flagg played a season-low 22 minutes and shot 2 of 8 from the floor. He missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. Flagg didn’t have to do much because of the opponent, but improving his 3-point shooting should be a point of emphasis for the rest of the season. Grade: C
Up next
Duke will face George Mason at home on Tuesday. The Patriots are off to a 7-3 start to the 2024-25 season and this will mark their second game against a Power Five opponent this season. George Mason lost to Marquette 82-63 in its second game.
No. 9 Duke erased a 14-point deficit on the road Sunday to escape Louisville with a 76-65 win in its first ACC test of the 2024-25 regular season. The Blue Devils outscored shorthanded Louisville 43-28 in the second half and outscored their conference foe 34-14 in the paint while improving to 7-2 on the season.
Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg had yet another big day at the office to lead Duke with 20 points and 12 rebounds, marking his fourth career double-double. Flagg fouled out for the first time all season and played just 28 minutes. But he made his mark in the game with two steals, one block and one assist to boot.
Flagg’s big game put an exclamation mark on what was a big week both personally for him and for his team after the Blue Devils took down No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday behind his 22 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
You gotta see this
Flagg’s developing face-up game has shown some improvement already this season, but as we saw Sunday, perhaps he doesn’t need it! Even if he isn’t able to finish in 1-on-1 settings, he always has the option of simply cleaning up his own messes at the rim — like this finish vs. the Cards. A thing of beauty.
Key stat:
12 rebounds: Flagg set a new career-high with 12 rebounds vs. Louisville and did his damage all while playing the third-fewest minutes in a game all season.
Giving out a grade
The bar for grading Flagg is high but even by his own standards, this was a really solid performance. He made a huge difference on the boards, was active on defense and showed aggressiveness on offense. He finished 8-of-17 shooting. Grade: B
Up next
Duke will face Incarnate Word on Tuesday as the Blue Devils return home to Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke, Flagg topple No. 2 Auburn
You gotta see this
Flagg knocked down a tough fadeaway jumper in the first half against Auburn. This kind of self-creation is the next step in his development.
Key stat:
11 rebounds: Flagg matched his career-high by pulling down 11 rebounds in the win over Auburn. It’s the third time he has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in a game after accomplishing the feat in back-to-back games earlier this season against Army and Kentucky. The quality of the opponent makes the stat that much more impressive.
Giving out a grade
Flagg was fantastic against Auburn. He was active on both ends of the floor. Flagg recorded three steals and two blocks and made some timely shots down the stretch against one of the best defenses in the country. This was one of the best overall performances of his young career. Grade: A
Up next
Duke will face Louisville on the road on Sunday. The Cardinals are off to a 5-3 start in Year 1 of the Pat Kelsey era but have lost their last two games to Oklahoma and Ole Miss. Louisville went on a five-game win streak last month, highlighted by an 89-61 win over Indiana.
Flagg dominates in win vs. Seattle
You gotta see this
Flagg threw down (another) major dunk in the first half to help set the tone and get the Cameron Crazies juiced up just before halftime. He makes transition buckets look effortless with his length and explosiveness, and that was the case here as he casually finished with two hands above the rim.
Key stat
7 assists: Flagg had a season-high for assists despite riding the pine for most of the final 10 minutes of the game. That not only bested his previous career-high of six assists but was also the second-most for any Duke player in a single game this season behind only Kon Knueppel, who had eight vs. Kansas earlier in the week.
Giving out a grade
As good as Flagg was making plays for his teammates, we can’t overlook his struggles elsewhere. He finished 2 of 7 shooting on the day, failed to make either of his two attempts from 3-point range and had three turnovers on the evening to boot. Grade: C+
Flagg struggles in loss to No. 1 Kansas, turns ball over late again
Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as No. 1 Kansas defeated No. 11 Duke 75-72 in a thrilling nonconference game in Las Vegas. Flagg finished with five rebounds and three assists but turned the ball over four times in a slim loss to the Jayhawks.
Flagg has scored in double figures in five of his first six games. He was coming off arguably the best performance of his young career, posting a team-high 24 points in a 69-55 win over Arizona.
You gotta see this
Flagg threw down a monster poster dunk in the second half against Kansas on Tuesday.
Key stat
1 for 2: Flagg scored only two points in the first half, hitting one of his two field-goal attempts before halftime. Flagg got going somewhat offensively after intermission and scored 11 of his 13 points after halftime.
Giving out a grade
Flagg delivered a highlight-worthy dunk and made some strong defensive plays, this was probably the worst outing of his young college career. His performance against Arizona last week showed what he’s capable of doing. With his team trailing by one, Flagg turned the ball over with 48 seconds remaining, which gave Kansas the ball back. It was somewhat similar to what happened at the end of Duke’s game against Kentucky. Grade: C.
Up next
Duke will stay in Las Vegas the next few days before facing Seattle U. The Redhawks face Furman in the second game of the doubleheader on Tuesday in Sin City. Seattle U is off to a 2-3 start to the season.
Flagg putting up big numbers
On Friday night in Tucson, Arizona, No. 12 Duke went into the hornet’s nest that is the McKale Center and won convincingly 69-55 over a talented No. 17 Arizona team that has been nearly automatic on its home floor under coach Tommy Lloyd. The schematic explanation for how they did so includes forcing turnovers, making big 3s and creating extra opportunities, but the simple explanation boils down to two words.
Cooper Flagg.
Duke’s freshman phenom was sensation in the win with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in yet another stat-sheet stuffing showing. The No. 1 recruit has been the No. 1 option for Duke and one of the best players in college basketball right away, and it’s shown in the box score, where he now leads Duke in every major statistical category, as Global Scouting noted over the weekend — making him the only currently Div. I player to be doing so right now.
That’s as impressive as it is jarring. A 17-year-old is dominating for a Duke team likely to be in or very near the top 10 of the AP Top 25 on Monday, and in a way that no other player — not just freshmen, but player — is doing so at the Div. I level.
Flagg’s passed every test this season with flying colors save for a late turnover vs. Kentucky in the Champions Classic that might’ve cost Duke the win. He’ll have his biggest test of the season — and maybe the year — on Tuesday night in a major spotlight showdown as Duke faces No. 1 Kansas in Las Vegas, pitting him up against star big man Hunter Dickinson and a talented froncourt that includes freshman Flory Bidunga and KJ Adams. It should be appointment viewing, as every Flagg game has been this season.
Key stats
31%: Flagg has the second-highest usage rate among qualifying freshmen this season in college basketball at 31%, trailing only Texas freshman Tre Johnson, whose usage rate through six games stands at 31.2%. Since 2000, only eight other players in the power structure conference have posted that high of a usage rate while averaging at least 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in a season. That list is: DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Ben Simmons, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, Kris Humphries and Carmelo Anthony.
Giving out an early grade
Five games into the season is a small sample size but it’s hard to be too critical of what Flagg has accomplished already as a 17-year-old true freshman playing for the most scrutinized team in college basketball. He’s looked every bit the part of the No. 1 recruit and is tracking toward becoming the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 in the 2025 NBA Draft. Grade: A+
Flagg leads leads Blue Devils over Arizona in first true road game
In his first true road game as a collegiate player Flagg led No. 12 Duke to a 69-55 victory Friday at No. 17 Arizona in one of the premier nonconference games of the 2024-25 college basketball season. Flagg finished with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists vs. the Wildcats.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a 34-27 halftime advantage and held off a late rally from Arizona to improve to 4-1 on the season. The Blue Devils’ lone loss came earlier this month to Kentucky in the Champions Classic. Duke has since won two straight ahead of its biggest game of the season against No. 1 Kansas next week.
Flagg played a career-high 38 minutes in the win over Arizona.
You gotta see this
With just over 12 minutes remaining in the second half on Friday, Flagg drove through the middle of the lane and threw down a powerful one-handed flush.
Key stat
24 points: Flagg has now scored double figures in four of his five career games. Flagg scored eight points in 28 minutes during a blowout loss to Wofford last week and responded with a nice scoring effort days later. Flagg’s career-high (26 points) came against Kentucky in the Champions Classic earlier this month.
Giving out a grade
The McKale Center in Tucson is one of the toughest and most intimidating environments for any (opposing) player to play in. Flagg’s overall efficiency (10 of 22) wasn’t amazing, but he did score 24 points — the most of any player on the floor. Flagg held his own against one of the best teams in the country. Grade: A
Up next
Duke travels to Las Vegas on Tuesday to face No. 1 Kansas. The Jayhawks opened the season as the top-ranked team in both the AP and Coaches polls and will enter this matchup with a perfect 5-0 record. Longtime coach Bill Self recently became the winningest coach in Kansas program history following a victory over Michigan State in the Champions Classic.
No. 6 Duke defeated Wofford 86-35 on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium just days after suffering its first loss to Kentucky in the Champions Classic. Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg had a quiet offensive performance, finishing with a season-low eight points, but stuffed the stat sheet with nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Flagg didn’t have to play much in the second half because his team jumped out to a 51-14 halftime advantage. The star forward played all 20 minutes in the second half in the loss to the Wildcats and logged only 13 minutes after intermission against the Terriers.
Despite the loss to Kentucky, Flagg had the best scoring performance of his career, posting a team-high 26 points. Flagg had scored in double-digits in Duke’s first three games of the season coming into the weekend.
You gotta see this
Flagg had a quiet day on offense against Wofford, but did record an And-1 bucket in the first half. He celebrated appropriately.
Key stat:
Thirteen second half minutes: Flagg played all 20 minutes in the second half against Kentucky earlier this week but checked out with 5:41 remaining against Wofford. The star freshman got some well deserved rest ahead of a marquee showdown against Arizona next week.
Giving out a grade
Flagg didn’t have to do much for his team to record a bounce-back win at home. The star forward only logged 28 minutes and finished with eight points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Flagg went 1 of 5 from the 3-point line – an area he will need to improve on to take the next step in his development. Grade: A-
Up next
Duke travels to Tucson, Arizona, on Friday to face No. 9 Arizona. The Wildcats are coming off a 103-88 loss on the road to Wisconsin for their first loss of the season. This game will be a rematch of last year’s showdown at Cameron Indoor Stadium, won by Arizona 78-73. Arizona is coached by Tommy Lloyd, who is in his fourth season with the program after spending two decades as an assistant coach at Gonzaga.
Flagg right on track in first few games
Through three games, Cooper Flagg has had his ups (he’s averaging a double-double) and downs (poor shooting, cramping). All in all, it’s been a fine early debut for the freshman phenom. Taken in context of how other eventual greats began their careers, Flagg is right on track.
Cooper Flagg vs. Recent Duke No. 1 Overall Picks (Through first 3 Games)
Player
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
2018 Zion Williamson
25.3
10.7
2.7
82.1
2021 Paolo Banchero
19.3
8.7
0.3
67.7
2024 Cooper Flagg
19.0
10.0
3.3
45.5
However, keep an eye on how Flagg shoots the ball the next few weeks — both the result and the process. Here’s how Adam Finkelstein, the Director of Scouting at 247Sports and a draft analyst for CBS Sports, assesses Flagg:
The cramping and the two late turnovers against Kentucky may be what people will talk about, but the 17-year-old had 26 points and 12 rebounds at the Champions Classic. For him to play that well, and yet still have so much untapped upside is what is so exciting. Most scouts assume the cramping won’t be a long-term problem. The self-creation is a work in progress, but that was largely expected.
It’s been the shooting that has stood out as a variable that’s going to potentially be even more important than expected. He’s 3-for-13 from three so far (23%), but more than that it’s that his spot-up shots in particular haven’t looked particularly good. He’s getting almost no lift into his release, versus when he shoots off the dribble or on the move and he tends to rise-up more into that release.
Having repeatable mechanics is a big part of shooting consistency and so the sheer variance of his elevation into different types of shots creates some uncertainty about the way it could trend long-term.
No. 6 Duke plays against Nov. 16 against Wofford.
Flagg shines but turns ball over twice late in loss to Kentucky
With No. 6 Duke down by two against No. 19 Kentucky coming out of a timeout with just over two minutes remaining on Tuesday night, the Blue Devils were in desperate need of a bucket after missing six straight shots from the floor. So, with the game hanging in the balance, they turned to the youngest player on the floor.
Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg took the basketball, bullied his way inside the free-throw line and sank a contested jumper over Koby Brea as Brea committed a foul. Flagg made the free throw, which put Duke ahead. It felt for a moment like the game’s pivotal play.
But neither the lead, nor Flagg’s brilliance lasted over the game’s final two minutes as the No. 19 Wildcats edged the No. 6 Blue Devils 77-72 in a Champions Classic thriller. Flagg’s 26 point, 12-rebound effort featured many dazzling moments as he played in the first showcase game of his college career. But it also featured some growing pains down the stretch.
Following the aforementioned and-one sequence, Flagg made another physical bucket to tie the game at 72-72. But when the Blue Devils went back to Flagg twice in the final 30 seconds on two separate possessions, he committed two turnovers that sank Duke’s chances.
Flagg’s skill and versatility shined throughout against a veteran-laden Kentucky team. However, the ending will go down as a hard-learned lesson for the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
You gotta see this
Flagg made his presence felt immediately, as he finished a lob on the game’s first possession to open the scoring. It was part of a strong start as Flagg needed just over 11 minutes to reach double figures.
Key stat
20 minutes: After playing just 12 minutes in the first half after picking up his second foul, Flagg played the entire second half. That was a significant development for Duke after Flagg dealt with cramping issues in the Blue Devils’ first two games.
Giving out a grade
While on the one hand, it’s hard to knock a 17-year old freshman for such a statistically productive performance in his first game against a high-major college opponent, there was plenty for Flagg to improve upon. In particular, his inability to even get up a shot before committing consecutive turnovers in the final 30 seconds was costly. But the legion of NBA scouts in attendance likely saw nothing that would prompt them to consider moving Flagg from No. 1 on their big boards. Overall, he was great, but the performance was marred by the ending. Grade vs. Kentucky: B
Up next
Duke hosts Wofford on Saturday. The Terriers are coached by Dwight Perry, a former Kentucky walk-on who is originally from Durham, North Carolina. Wofford was picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference preseason poll and ranks No. 7 nationally in minutes continuity with a deep well of players back from a team that finished 17-15 last season.
Flagg posts early double-double vs. Army
Cooper Flagg needed just one half to record the first double-double of his college career as the No. 7 Blue Devils beat Army 100-58. The freshman phenom had 13 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal at halftime as Duke opened up a 43-20 lead.
Flagg was quiet in the second half, adding a rebound to that tally in just six minutes as the Blue Devils cruised to a 2-0 start and he dealt with apparent cramps for a second straight game.
There was no need for Duke to force the issue with Flagg in the second half as the Blue Devils owned a commanding lead behind a strong team effort. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel was impressive again, finishing with a team-high 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range As a team, the Blue Devils made 17 of 38 looks from deep as Tyrese Proctor also made four 3-pointers. Six players reached double figures for Duke.
You gotta see this
Duke had missed six straight shots from the floor and led just 7-6 when the Blue Devils got a transition opportunity by virtue of their pressure defense less than four minutes into the game. Sion James came up with a steal, and Tyrese Proctor led a fast break that Flagg finished with an emphatic alley-oop slam.
Key stat
2 of 4: Flagg’s 3-point shooting, which was a welcome sight after he went 0 for 4 from 3-point range in Duke’s season-opening win over Maine. His two 3-pointers bookended an 18-0 Duke run in the first half.
Giving out a grade
While Flagg’s cramping issues in the second half of both games so far this season is a concern, he’s nonetheless looked the part of a college basketball star. For any player to secure a double-double in their second collegiate game is an impressive accomplishment. That Flagg needed only a half to reach that threshold of statistical productivity is a testament to his dominance. It wasn’t a perfect performance — a 1-for-3 performance from the free-throw line is worth a slight knock — but Flagg looked great for the most part. Grade: A-
Up next
Duke faces a considerable uptick in competition on Tuesday as the Blue Devils will play No. 23 Kentucky in Atlanta as part of the Champions Classic. The Wildcats are a veteran-oriented team under first-year coach Mark Pope.
Flagg has solid debut vs. his home-state school
Duke phenom Cooper Flagg made his long-awaited collegiate debut on Nov. 4 as the Blue Devils outlasted Maine 96-62 to open the 2024-25 season. Flagg finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes before checking out with 3:28 remaining while battling cramps.
The Maine native didn’t get his first basket from the floor until 6:25 remained in the first half. But his command for the game was on display early as Flagg assisted on two of Duke’s first three buckets. With fellow freshman Kon Knueppel on fire with 13 points in the first seven minutes, Flagg took on a complimentary role for much of the first half.
But Flagg’s ability to impact the game without the ball in his hands is part of the allure that makes him the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Here is more from his debut:
You gotta see this
With Duke leading just 35-27 and under four minutes remaining in the first half, Flagg offered a glimpse of the highlight-reel capability that helped make him the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2024. Operating on the right wing, Flagg beat a Maine defender off the dribble, hit the paint and then exploded for a vicious right-handed dunk. The play ignited the Cameron Crazies and offered a glimpse of the electric potential that Flagg brings.
Key stat
Flagg made 6 of 6 free throws, which was a great sign considering how much time he’s likely to spend at the charity stripe this season.
Giving out a grade
Flagg looked comfortable and in command, even during a slow offensive start. The Blue Devils were +27 with him on the floor, and he passed the eye test in his first game against a Division I opponent after a couple of exhibitions against lower-tier foes. Flagg rarely forced looks on offense, but he did finish just 6 of 15 shooting. Flagg’s 0 for 4 mark from beyond the arc was the biggest drag on his grade. Overall, though, it was a good start. Grade: B+
Up next
Duke returns to action Friday at 6 p.m. ET when the Blue Devils welcome Army to Cameron Indoor Stadium. It will be the final tune-up before a Nov. 12 showdown vs. Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic.
Early flash from Flagg in preseason blowout
Flagg had a nice and-one finish in the first minute of Duke’s 103-47 exhibition beatdown of Arizona State. He added a couple of free throws shortly thereafter while accounting for four of his team’s six points. From there, it was mostly a quiet day for Flagg as the Blue Devils steamrolled the Sun Devils. He finished with nine points, four rebounds and three assists on 3 of 9 shooting in 21 minutes. Flagg logged just five minutes in the second half as the Blue Devils played their reserves ample minutes.
“I thought he just impacted the game in a lot of ways,” Scheyer said. “Of course, his numbers aren’t going to wow you or anything. I didn’t put him back in the game, so that’s part of it. He has this ‘it’ factor that you can’t explain, where he just makes everyone around him better. His unselfishness, when your best player is not searching for stats it has such an amazing impact on the rest of your team. That’s what he does. He guards whoever you ask him to. He’s pushing the break, the ball flowed through his hands. I thought he had a good game and, still, he’s got a lot more in him.”
Flagg shines in exhibition debut
Flagg logged an efficient 24 minutes in Duke’s 107-56 exhibition win over Division II Lincoln (PA) on Oct. 19. He led the Blue Devils in points (22), assists (6) and blocks (4). While the competition was lacking relative to what Flagg will see throughout the regular season, it was an encouraging first glimpse at his versatility.
Here’s what head coach Jon Scheyer had to say about Flagg’s defensive performance in the game, via The Devils Den: “He has great instincts, obviously, with how hard he plays. And then, you add in his feel, he’s going to make some special plays. Today, he had four blocks. I think he can even add in some steals, preferably next time going forward. But I thought it was good for him. I thought he was himself. I thought even for ‘Coop,’ he can rebound more. There’s so much there for him. And I thought it was great for him to get a feel today.
Flagg earns No. 3 spot Top 100 and 1 list
CBS Sports published its list of the top 100 and 1 players in college basketball entering the new season. Flagg registered at No. 3 on the list, trailing only Mark Sears of Alabama and RJ Davis of North Carolina. Here’s what senior writer Gary Parrish had to say about Flagg:
“Any time the consensus top-ranked high school player in the country, who also doubles as the projected No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA Draft, enrolls at Duke, the eyes of the sport will focus on Cameron Indoor Stadium, which is exactly what’s happened this preseason. Will Flagg live up to expectations and become the youngest Wooden Award winner in college basketball history while helping Jon Scheyer advance to his first Final Four as a coach?
“As always, we’ll see. But there’s no doubting that the 6-9 forward from Maine is a generational talent who can and does impact winning in a variety of ways — from scoring to rebounding to passing and guarding. There’s real substance behind the hype. His first high-profile game will be Nov. 12 against Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Atlanta.”
College basketball rankings: The Top 100 and 1 best players entering the 2024-25 season
Kyle Boone
Behind the scenes at Duke
Matt Norlander went behind the scenes with Duke during preseason practice. “Get ready, because Duke is probably going to be The Biggest Deal in College Basketball again, potentially reaching the stratospheric levels of Zion Williamson and company in 2018-19,” Norlander wrote. “Whether the Blue Devils are the best team, top-10 good or an inconsistent curiosity, coach Jon Scheyer knows this season is going to be evaluated and adjudicated more intensely than his first two.
Cooper Flagg hype sets tone for Jon Scheyer’s most critical Duke season yet: An inside look at the Blue Devils
Matt Norlander
Cooper Flagg named CBS Sports preseason Freshman of the Year
Cooper Flagg was unanimously voted CBS Sports preseason Freshman of the Year and was the only freshman named to the CBS Sports 2024-25 Preseason All-America First Team. Here’s what Cameron Salerno had to say about Flagg’s lofty preseason accolades:
“Flagg has generated the hype of being the top-ranked prospect in his respective recruiting class because of his unique skill set that will translate to the college level and make him one of the most dominant players at just 17 years old. Flagg will be surrounded by a veteran Duke squad with national championship expectations in Year 3 of the Jon Scheyer era. No pressure, kid.”
2024-25 CBS Sports Preseason Freshman of the Year: Duke’s Cooper Flagg leads frosh All-America team
Cameron Salerno
In a dominating performance, Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg led the Blue Devils to a blowout win over Virginia Tech with an impressive 24-point performance. Keep track of Flagg’s impressive progress with the Cooper Flagg Tracker! #DukeBasketball #CooperFlaggTracker #FreshmanPhenom
Tags:
Cooper Flagg Tracker, Duke basketball, freshman sensation, college basketball, ACC, Duke Blue Devils, Virginia Tech, blowout win, 24 points, standout performance, top scorer, Blue Devils victory.
SAN FRANCISCO – The good vibes that carried the Warriors through the weekend were shredded Monday night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, the best team in the NBA this season, rolled into Chase Center, allowed themselves some early lollygagging before engaging the boosters and leaving the Warriors with a 113-95 loss.
Six Warriors scored in double figures, none reaching the 20-point mark. Moses Moody led with 19 points, followed by Jonathan Kuminga with 18 and Trayce Jackson-Davis with 16.
Cleveland’s backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland outscored Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Dennis Schröder 48-23.
Coming off a feel-good win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, the Warriors are back searching for solutions for such persistent problems as botched possessions, missed layups and defensive miscues.
This marks the second consecutive season that Golden State was swept by Cleveland in the two-game season-series.
Here are three observations from a game that dropped the Warriors (16-16) back to .500:
Offense Goes Comatose
The autopsy for this loss begins with the second quarter, in which Golden State’s offense went into hiding and stayed there.
To be fair, neither team made a field goal until Andrew Wiggins dropped in a floater with 7:33 left in the half. From that point on, it was all Cavaliers. They moved into command position by outscoring Golden State 20-8 over the remainder of the half.
How bad was it for the Warriors? They scored 11 points in the quarter, their lowest total in any quarter this season. They shot 4-of-24 from the field and missed all eight of their 3-point shots. And it wasn’t a matter of great defense by the Cavaliers, as they missed open shots from all three levels – even failed to score a single point off Cleveland’s five turnovers in the quarter.
Nine different Warriors got minutes in the quarter, and only two – Andrew Wiggins and Kuminga – scored field goals. The other seven went a combined 0-of-13.
This was the abyss, for it can’t get any lower.
Oh, Buddy
Buddy Hield’s slide continues, and it’s approaching the critical stage.
Hield missed open 3-pointers, missed layups and finished with two points on 1-of-8 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
That’s how it has been going for Hield, who was coming off a 0-of-7 shooting night against the Suns on Saturday. Since making an early bid for Sixth Man of the Year with hot shooting, he has cooled considerably. If Buddy isn’t scoring, he’s not being effective.
In the seven games since his 27-point outburst in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 8, Hield is shooting 27-of-78 (34.6 percent) from the field, including 15-of-55 (27.3 percent) from distance.
Coach Steve Kerr, speaking two hours before tipoff, expressed confidence in Hield regaining his touch. History says one of the league’s best deep shooters won’t stay in refrigeration.
That is where Hield is now, and it’s tough on the eyes. Tougher on the second unit.
Nice Start Goes To Waste
The Warriors surely recall the first meeting between the teams, on Nov. 8, when the Cavs raced to a 20-2 lead in less than five minutes, igniting a tip-to-buzzer rout.
There would be no repeat.
Playing fast and forceful from the jump, the Warriors went up seven (16-9) in first five minutes and maintained a lead deep into the second quarter.
Golden State forced four turnovers in the first seven minutes and, despite Cleveland’s size advantage, dominated the glass, with Trayce Jackson-Davis snagging eight rebounds in the first quarter, the most in any quarter in his career.
Running the offense as designed, with consistent ball movement, the Warriors recorded eight assists in the opening quarter and all eight players to stepped onto the floor managed at least one field goal.
One good quarter, however, doesn’t win a basketball game.
The Golden State Warriors suffered a tough blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with their offense struggling to find its rhythm throughout the game. Here are some key takeaways from the game:
1. Lack of ball movement: The Warriors offense seemed stagnant at times, with players often resorting to isolation plays rather than moving the ball around and finding open shots. This lack of ball movement made it easier for the Cavaliers’ defense to key in on their scorers.
2. Shooting woes: The Warriors shot a dismal percentage from the field, particularly from beyond the arc. Their usually reliable shooters struggled to knock down shots, leading to a lack of offensive production.
3. Turnovers: The Warriors committed a high number of turnovers, giving the Cavaliers easy scoring opportunities in transition. This lack of ball security hindered their ability to generate consistent offense and allowed the Cavaliers to build a comfortable lead.
4. Defensive lapses: In addition to their offensive struggles, the Warriors also had issues on the defensive end. They allowed the Cavaliers to get easy looks at the basket, leading to a high shooting percentage for their opponents.
Overall, the Warriors will need to regroup and refocus on both ends of the court in order to bounce back from this blowout loss. This game serves as a reminder that they cannot rely solely on their offensive firepower and will need to improve their overall team play in order to compete at a high level.
