Jan. 6 — Cooper Flagg and the Duke men’s basketball team begin the new year.
The No. 4 Blue Devils (12-2) have won eight straight after sinking ACC foes Virginia Tech and Southern Methodist University.
Conference play continues this week, with matchups against Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.
Last week
Flagg, a Newport native, was the leading scorer in both of Duke’s triumphs, continuing an impressive freshman season that saw him become the team’s leader in points, rebounds, assists and blocks.
In an 88-65 win over Virginia Tech, Flagg scored 24 points while notching six assists and four steals. In an 89-62 win over SMU, Flagg again scored 24 and this time had a double-double with 11 rebounds. He added three assists and two blocks, and made 8 of 8 from the free throw line.
After SMU’s win, Flagg talked about how his game has evolved since the start of the season.
“I think as we get more comfortable as a team, we get closer,” he said. “I think our offense has improved a lot, and that’s helped me too. A lot of guys have stepped up in a lot of different games, so it’s just a team effort having guys like Tyrese (Proctor) and Kon (Knueppel) on the pitch helps me open everything up.”
Duke coach Jon Scheyer praised Flagg’s start to the season after the Virginia Tech game.
“I feel like I’m taking some crazy pills when we talk about Cooper,” Scheyer said. “Look, he was reclassified. How many times can you point out a reclassification, where a guy does that, and he’s the No. 1 guy in a scouting report, and has played every game so far, at 17 years old.
“Over the holidays, I told him that I thought he still had a lot more in him. And I thought he unleashed even more of what he could do today. We should all cherish the fact that Cooper happened a year earlier… For me, that’s not the case.” It’s not necessarily mentioned enough. I know we congratulate Cooper, he deserves it, but what he does for our team is incredible. “
The week ahead
Tuesday
Opponent: Pittsburgh
Time: 7 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Notes: The Panthers are 4-11 all-time against the Blue Devils, but won the last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, 80-76, last January. Pittsburgh (12-2, 3-0 ACC) has won five straight but lost to No. 19 Wisconsin, 81-75 in its only game against Top 25 opposition.
Ishmael Leggett leads the Panthers with 17.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
SATURDAY
Opponent: Notre Dame
Time: noon
Television: ESPN
Notes: This has been a mediocre season for the Fighting Irish, who entered the week at .500 at 7-7 (1-2 ACC). Notre Dame is coming off a heartbreaking loss, falling to North Carolina 74-73 on a four-point play by Elliot Cadeau with four seconds left after erasing a seven-point halftime deficit .
Tae Davis (16.6 points) was Notre Dame’s leading scorer throughout the season. Markus Burton (18.9) returned against UNC after missing time with a knee injury.
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