The Blue Devils have been having a historically good ACC campaign, dominating everyone to start out league play at 9-0. However, in the last game, the Blue Devils showed that they’re not unbeatable, trailing Wake Forest on the road in the second half after a brutal scoreless span.
The last ACC team to beat Duke was NC State, who defeated them in the Elite 8 of last year’s NCAA Tournament. And they looked prepared to try and make it two straight losses, up by as much as 11 points in the first half and taking a 37-33 halftime lead.
Cooper Flagg is an absolute stud. The best part of his game is he doesn't show up his opponents. There's no "look at me" celebrations. He plays with class & respect & just wants to win! Very refreshing to see. 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/tlSDj9TpbM
— Zak Blair (@coachzblair10) January 28, 2025
And then... Cooper Flagg happened. The freshman star and future likely No. 1 NBA Draft pick once again put the team on his back, scoring most of his production in the final 20 minutes. That included a number of big buckets, showcasing his all-around skills.
We’re lucky Cooper Flagg is unbelievably good. He bailed us out against Wake and he’s doing the same thing right now
— Duke Den (@DukeDen2) January 28, 2025
To NC State’s credit, they never went away, making it a one-possession game with a couple of minutes to go. But in the end, Duke held on for the 74-64 win to go 10-0 in ACC play. Flagg finished with a game-high 28 points on 8/17 shooting, and they needed all of them.
Cooper Flagg is unbelievable dude pic.twitter.com/stjWi0n8ks
— JMann_ (@JMannsTakes) January 28, 2025
Throughout the night, Duke fans were rightfully concerned with the recent play of their team. The performance against Wake Forest was on the road, and the Demon Deacons were desperate. But against the team and coach that sent you home in the Big Dance just 48 hours later, you would’ve thought that the Blue Devils would’ve had a more spirited effort.
The good news for Duke is that they were home for this weekend’s matchup. The bad news is that it’s against rival North Carolina, who badly could use a signature win against them. If they continue to struggle, the Blue Devils could lose.