Duke’s Cooper Flagg is first player since Dwyane Wade to earn rare milestone in NCAA Tournament
The Duke Blue Devils are still fighting for a spot in the national championship, and they have the perfect players to take them there. The team is led by a freshman who seems out of this world and could very well be named National Player of the Year when all is said and done.
However, for Cooper Flagg, it’s all about reaching the pinnacle and winning the national championship. Duke fans around the world were rattled when the freshman phenom went down with an injury during the ACC Tournament, casting doubt on the team’s path to glory.
The plan all along was for the Blue Devils to get Flagg back and as healthy as possible for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Duke won their first two games of the tournament convincingly. However, the Sweet Sixteen matchup against Arizona was expected to be a different challenge. After the Wildcats’ Round of 32 victory, former North Carolina Tar Heel Caleb Love had a message for Duke.
“We’ll be ready for them,” Love told the media.
It seems the Blue Devils took that to heart, using it as bulletin board material. Their offense exploded, putting up 100 points against Arizona. Despite the loss, Arizona made headlines of its own by securing a major commitment earlier that day.
Cooper Flagg had a historic day for the Blue Devils, achieving a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since Dwyane Wade.
“Cooper Flagg is the first player with at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three-plus blocks in an NCAA Tournament game since Dwyane Wade in the 2003 Elite Eight vs. Kentucky,” Matt Norlander posted.
Flagg now joins elite company, with Wade having enjoyed a very successful NBA career. If Flagg decides to declare, he’s certainly on track for a similarly stellar future. Flagg has yet to silence his doubters, but he’s proving he may be one of the greatest players college basketball has ever seen.
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