Duke University, as expected, advanced to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after defeating its arch rival, the University of North Carolina, in the Atlantic Coast league (ACC) semifinal game on Friday and then defeating the University of Louisville on Saturday to win the league championship.
It is the top seed in the East Region and will face the winner of the play-in round match between American and Mount St. Mary’s.
Freshman star Cooper Flagg did not play on Friday or Saturday due to an ankle ailment, but he is anticipated to be available once the tournament begins. During an interview on “The Rich Eisen Show,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas expressed his high regard for Flagg. “I think he’s the best and most complete freshman that Duke’s ever had,” Bilas said on Monday. “He will be the number one pick. He’s unique. He has a talent for the game that you don’t see very often.
Since a year ago, when he was a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida, Flagg has been widely predicted to be the first choice in the 2025 NBA Draft, providing he declares. The 6-foot-9 forward is a fluid scorer with the ability to cause a lot of damage in the open court, as well as an effective passer and defender.
He has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game this season for the Blue Devils. Some scouts and pundits have compared him to Scottie Pippen, a versatile, athletic Hall of Famer who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s and is regarded as one of the best defensive players in basketball history.
