The whole lot signaled the coronation of Jon Scheyer and Cooper Flagg fulfilling their legacy. When Duke held Alabama’s high-scoring offense scoreless for 5 minutes and went on a 13-0 run in New Jersey to clinch a ticket to the Remaining 4, the Blue Devils appeared each bit the a part of the most effective crew within the nation.
And for 32 minutes on Saturday night time contained in the Alamodome, there was nothing that might have steered that Duke was going to lose the nationwide semifinal to Houston. Flagg was the most effective participant on the ground, going for 27 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists, three blocks and two steals.
The Blue Devils had been up by 14, taking pictures roughly 40% from 3-point territory with no less than half of the gang of their favor, three NBA Draft lottery picks, and a protection that was enjoying about in addition to any crew in America.
How did Duke lose that sport?
It is a query that each single Duke fan needs to be asking proper now. However Houston coach Kelvin Sampson stated it greatest on Saturday night time:
“Cooper Flagg was not going to beat us by himself,” Sampson stated of Duke’s star freshman. “I felt like if we might simply cling in there, even once we had been down 14, these guys will inform you what I used to be speaking about within the huddle: Simply cling in there, cling in there.”
Just one faculty basketball crew might have received again in January after they had been down six with 9 seconds to play in opposition to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. That very same crew simply so occurred to be the one one which had a shot – 2% based on superior stats with stay betting odds at +8000 with 9 minutes on the clock – to drag off what all of us witnessed on Saturday night time: the Houston Cougars.
The most effective half about Houston’s unbelievable comeback win over mighty Duke? It was an entire crew effort, whether or not it was Emanuel Sharp burying a triple to chop the result in three, or L.J. Cryer scoring 26 factors, or J’Wan Roberts flattening two clutch free throws after taking pictures simply 63% from the road this season.
This Houston crew deserves all of the credit score for the win. There is a motive why Sampson is 160-23 in his final 183 video games as a head coach and why the Cougars can win their first nationwide championship in class historical past on Monday night time.
However one couldn’t watch Saturday night time’s thrilling Remaining 4 matchup between the Cougars and Blue Devils and never assume that it was one of many all-time collapses in NCAA Match historical past. Sure, Duke is a crew that depends closely on a trio of freshmen, however Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach have been past their years in maturity. A crew with that a lot expertise, to be up 14 with eight minutes remaining, after which up seven with 1:26 left, and to lose it in the long run, feels close to unimaginable.
This loss will cling with Scheyer ceaselessly. Will it outline him? No.
Scheyer has emerged as among the finest coaches within the sport, and his path to redemption goes to be a high headline till he workouts the demons. However that is now a part of his journey.
To recommend Duke’s collapse on Saturday night time was a first-of-its-kind consequence can be shortsighted, however it was among the many most stunning finishes in NCAA Match historical past.
Jay Wright handled this. There was a time when some Villanova individuals wished him fired. He is now thought-about one of many biggest coaches within the historical past of the game. Tony Bennett was scrutinized to no finish in 2018 when his Virginia crew misplaced to UMBC. One yr later, he led the Cavaliers to a nationwide championship. Folks questioned Matt Painter to no finish, and final yr, he led the Boilermakers to the nationwide title sport. Dan Hurley misplaced to Teddy Allen and New Mexico State in 2022 after which, the next two years, the Huskies completely dominated the game.
There have been numerous heartbreaking losses in faculty basketball. The most effective coaches bear in mind them extra as a result of that is how they’re wired, and Scheyer, the Glenbrook North Excessive Faculty legend out of Illinois who went on and had a exceptional enjoying profession at Duke earlier than working for Krzyzewski and turning into his successor, is a relentless competitor.
Duke’s beautiful loss serves as a reminder that something can occur within the NCAA Match. That is why we love this occasion. In a yr when followers had been clamoring for extra upsets, they had been handled to a pair of instantaneous classics on Saturday, proving this Remaining 4 was properly definitely worth the wait.
Will the heartbreaking trend during which this loss occurred linger for this Duke program? Sure. Will Scheyer seemingly be second-guessing his teaching strikes on the aircraft experience again to Durham? Sure.
The magic of the match would not take away from the ache for Flagg, who had the possibility to knock down a game-winner, however as an alternative got here up brief and did not fulfill his faculty mission. Flagg shall be simply effective and may have an extended NBA profession. However at Duke, you are judged by rings. That is why they’re the usual model within the sport.
Scheyer has confirmed he was the best man to switch Krzyzewski, however a yr after shedding to fellow ACC in-state foe NC State within the Elite Eight, shedding this fashion, with a spot within the nationwide championship on the road, is much more brutal than the final.
Scheyer cannot let this loss outline him. He has the No. 1-ranked recruiting class coming in subsequent yr, headlined by Cameron and Cayden Boozer. This may sting, however it’s necessary for Scheyer to have a brief reminiscence, as a result of at Duke, the requirements will all the time stay the identical: It is all about what you’ve got completed currently. And till Scheyer flips the web page to the 2025-26 season, and till he will get that subsequent signature win on this match, this can be a collapse that’s too poignant to not depart a stain.
For Duke and its followers, Saturday was a nightmare they might have by no means predicted coming to fruition. It is a sport they are going to wish to neglect in each means, however it will not be simple to take action. After such a rewarding yr full of numerous memorable moments, all of it got here to a stunning finish on Saturday. As a result of for Scheyer and the Blue Devils, that is the one which received away to an agonizing diploma.
John Fanta is a nationwide faculty basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Subject of 68 Media Community. Comply with him at @John_Fanta.
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