Former UNC head coach Roy Williams voiced his support for the Tar Heels’ current HC Hubert Davis. Duke fans simply laughed at the sentiment.

Just a few days ago, former North Carolina head coach Roy Williams voiced his support for the UNC Tar Heels’ current head coach Hubert Davis after many called for his firing. Now, Duke fans are having a good laugh at their rival’s current situation.

“He’s the right person for the job. It makes me cringe, the way people are talking,” Williams said. “We’ve had tough moments this year… But I’d love for it to turn around so I could look at all those suckers and tell them to shut up”

Following Williams’ statements on Zach Gleb’s podcast show, the Duke Blue Devils and their fans had to simply laugh off the supportive sentiment for their in-state rivals.

The two long-lived rivals have only played once so far this season and the Blue Devils walked away with a resounding 87-70 victory over the Tar Heels. However, the game was played at Cameron Indoor and Duke has yet to visit Chapel Hill this year.

Davis, who played collegiate basketball at UNC, joined Williams’ staff as an assistant in 2012 and became the Tar Heels’ head coach in 2021 when Williams retired. Despite leading North Carolina to an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen last season, many UNC fans have expressed adamant doubt about Hubert’s future with the team.

So far this season, Hubert has led the Heels to a disappointing 15-11 overall record and UNC currently sits in sixth place in the ACC after going 8-6 to start conference play. Duke and North Carolina will face off for a final time in the regular season on March 8.

Previous Gatorade award winners who have gone on to help market the company include Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and WNBA players Caitlin Clark and Candace Parker.

“This has been a big year for me on and off the court, and Gatorade has been there the whole way,” Flagg said in a statement. “From being named the Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year to now officially joining the team, it’s been surreal to have my name mentioned with some of the biggest names in basketball. The Gatorade roster is iconic, and I’m excited to work with them as I take this next step.”

Flagg joins other well-known college athletes such as University of Connecticut women’s basketball player Paige Bueckers, USC basketball player Juju Watkins, and University of Colorado football player Shedeur Sanders to help market the company under the NCAA Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rule.

Five-star forward Nate Ament, the highest-rated uncommitted player in the 2025 recruiting class, has officially announced his commitment to Duke University. The 6’9” forward from Wilmington, Delaware, made his highly anticipated decision after months of speculation and intense recruitment by some of the nation’s top programs.

Ament, known for his elite scoring ability, versatility, and high basketball IQ, is considered one of the most coveted prospects of his class. His decision to join the Blue Devils is a massive win for Coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program, as Ament is expected to make an immediate impact with his combination of size, skill, and athleticism. His commitment further solidifies Duke’s standing as a powerhouse in college basketball recruiting, having already assembled a top-tier 2025 class.

Over the past year, Ament’s recruitment attracted attention from major programs like Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina. However, the Blue Devils were able to clinch his signature, with Ament citing the strong coaching staff, the winning culture, and his desire to contribute to Duke’s success as key factors in his decision.

“I’ve always admired Duke’s tradition and the way they develop players both on and off the court,” Ament said in a statement. “I’m excited to be a part of something special and to help bring a national championship back to Durham.”

Ament’s commitment is a huge momentum boost for Duke as they continue to build their program for the future. With Ament joining the Blue Devils’ roster, fans are eager to see how he fits alongside other top recruits and whether he can help elevate Duke back to the top of college basketball when he steps on campus in 2025.

bad idea for Cooper to have a girlfriend in what will (very likely) be his only year as a college student. “I think that’s smart,” she adds. “It’s safe to not have any feelings.”

Such are the concessions of Flagg’s fast track. The bullet train from Maine schoolboy to mainstream superstar; the catch-him-if-you-can college experience; the reality that what’s coming next might be unlike anything anyone could’ve ever imagined.

share this part. She leans in to explain that everyone agrees it’s probably a bad idea for Cooper to have a girlfriend in what will (very likely) be his only year as a college student. “I think that’s smart,” she adds. “It’s safe to not have any feelings.”

Such are the concessions of Flagg’s fast track. The bullet train from Maine schoolboy to mainstream superstar; the catch-him-if-you-can college experience; the reality that what’s coming next might be unlike anything anyone could’ve ever imagined.

☰

DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Duke star Cooper Flagg, projected to be No. 1 pick in NBA Draft, makes surprise admission about future
Flagg is averaging nearly 20 points per game
Ryan Morik By Ryan Morik Fox News
Published February 15, 2025 3:08pm EST

Cooper Flagg could very likely hold more than his own weight in the NBA today, but by rule, he must be one year removed from high school before going pro.

So, he opted to go to Duke, and while most are predicting he’s a one-and-done, that may actually not be the case.

In a recent interview with “The Athletic,” Flagg, projected to be the No. 1 selection in this summer’s NBA Draft, made a stunning proclamation about his basketball future.

freshman said.

“I still feel like a kid,” he continued. “This is the only way I’ve ever known college. That’s how I see it. I really wouldn’t know how kids felt before, and if this feels different, if this feels more like being a professional. I mean, it’s the same thing for kids in high school, too, getting paid a lot of money. I don’t know. I feel pretty normal.”

Flagg actually started the college season as a 17-year-old, turning 18 just four days before Christmas. (He reclassified to graduate high school a year early.) He was the highest-rated recruit for the class of 2024 and received a Division I offer from Bryant before even completing middle school.

In a devastating blow to Duke University’s basketball program, key player Maliq Brown has suffered an injury that will end his playing career. Brown, a standout forward, was a crucial part of the Blue Devils’ lineup this season, showing remarkable skill and versatility on both ends of the court. Unfortunately, the severity of his injury has left medical professionals with no option but to advise him against continuing to play.

Sources close to the team confirm that Brown sustained a serious injury during a recent practice session. After undergoing extensive testing and evaluations, it was determined that the damage to his knee is irreparable, forcing the 6’8″ player to step away from the game. Doctors have stated that returning to play would pose significant risks to his long-term health, leading to the decision to retire from competitive basketball.

Brown’s departure marks a painful end to what had been a promising career. The freshman had made an immediate impact on the court, averaging impressive numbers in both scoring and rebounding. His leadership and energy were felt by his teammates, and his presence was seen as vital to Duke’s aspirations this season.

The Blue Devils’ coaching staff and fans are heartbroken by the news. Head coach Jon Scheyer expressed his support for Brown, praising his work ethic and resilience both on and off the court. “Maliq is a tremendous player and an even better person. We are all devastated for him, but we will support him in every way possible moving forward,” Scheyer said.

Though his playing career has been tragically cut short, Brown’s legacy at Duke will endure, and his impact on the program will not be forgotten. The Blue Devils are expected to adjust their lineup and continue their season in honor of Brown’s dedication and contributions.

Duke basketball freshman phenom Cooper Flagg put on a show once again for the Blue Devils in an 80-62 win at Virginia (13-13, 6-9 ACC) last night with a game-high 17 points to go along with 14 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting from the field.

The Blue Devils are now 23-3 overall and 15-1 in conference play.

Flagg also broke two more ACC records over the last day to add to add to his fantastic freshman campaign at Duke.

The freshman was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the tenth time this season this week, tying the ACC record for the most times earning the accolade.

Flagg joins Georgia Tech’s Kenny Anderson (1990), UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough (2006), and fellow Blue Devil Jabari Parker (2014) as the only ACC freshman to earn the award ten times.

Flagg will hold the record on his own if he can do so one more time over the last three weeks of the regular season.

The superstar averaged 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 55.6% shooting from the field and 50% shooting from three-point range in Duke’s 2-0 week with a 78-57 win over California (12-14, 5-10 ACC) and a 106-70 victory over Stanford (16-10, 8-7 ACC), both at home.

Along with his historic season among ACC freshman, Flagg also cemented himself with having one of the best single seasons in conference history.

Flagg is the first ACC player in the last 25 years to collect 500 points, 100 assists, and 30 blocks in the regular season.

While playing in just 26 career games, he’s accomplished a feat no other ACC player has been able to do over the course of the last quarter century.

Flagg is averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, four assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.6 steals a game on 48.6% shooting from the field and 36.6% shooting from beyond the arc. He leads the Blue Devils in all five of those major statistical categories.

He remains the frontrunner for the John Wooden National Player of the Year award with Auburn’s Johni Broome right on Flagg’s tail.

Flagg is currently -170 to win the award with Broome at +120 odds per ESPNBET. Flagg overtook Broome earlier in the season as the leader after Broome missed some time with a severe ankle sprain.

Next up for the Blue Devils is a huge non-conference matchup at Madison Square Garden against Illinois (17-9, 9-7 Big 10) on Saturday night (8:00pm ET, FOX). The Blue Devils are 0-2 on neutral courts this season with losses to Kentucky and Kansas.

The Duke basketball team is still searching for answers when it comes to Maliq Brown’s dislocated shoulder, or at least that is what Jon Scheyer is saying publicly.

Following an 18-point victory over Virginia on Monday, Scheyer revealed to reporters after the game that Brown suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the first half but did not have any further details other that he would undergo more imaging.

“It’s just going to take some time to see how he heals and recovers,” the Duke head coach said on Tuesday during an appearance on The Field of 68.

“We probably won’t know anything definitive this week. We’ll see about his status in the next week or so.”

Brown logged just ten minutes before his exit from the game and had two points, one rebound, and two assists. He returned to the Blue Devil bench during the second half with his arm in a sling.

It feels certain that Duke will not have its defensive wizard when it battles Illinois on Saturday night (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX) inside Madison Square Garden to conclude its non-conference slate of games based on Scheyer’s comments.

This will be the second time that Maliq Brown has missed multiple games with an injury this season after sitting four consecutive games with a toe injury.

Khaman Maluach, Duke’s starting center, did not put together his best performance against the Cavaliers with just two points and four rebounds following his 17-point showing against Stanford last week.

The Blue Devils could rely on fellow freshman Patrick Ngongba II to play more of a role in Brown’s absence, similar to what he did during his first injury absence of the season. Ngongba posted eight points in 11 minutes on Monday night.

Duke’s next ACC game is slated for Tuesday, February 25 (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) against Miami.

 

COPYRIGHT 2025 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

As Team USA prepared for the Olympics last summer, they gathered in Las Vegas for practices and training. While future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and others received plenty of attention as usual, it was 17-year-old Cooper Flagg who had a breakthrough performance. During a scrimmage, Flagg held his own against the world’s best players, showing the skills and smarts that made him the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Since then, Flagg has only helped his draft stock with a dominant freshman season at Duke. The Blue Devils (19-2) are No. 2 in the Associated Press poll and 11-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have won 15 consecutive games, the longest streak in Division 1, and are coming off an 87-70 victory on the road over rival North Carolina.

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With Freshman Phenom Cooper Flagg, Duke Is An NCAA Tournament Favorite

ByTim Casey, Senior Contributor.

Tim Casey is a reporter who covers basketball and sports business.

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Feb 04, 2025, 06:00am EST

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COPYRIGHT 2025 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

As Team USA prepared for the Olympics last summer, they gathered in Las Vegas for practices and training. While future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and others received plenty of attention as usual, it was 17-year-old Cooper Flagg who had a breakthrough performance. During a scrimmage, Flagg held his own against the world’s best players, showing the skills and smarts that made him the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Since then, Flagg has only helped his draft stock with a dominant freshman season at Duke. The Blue Devils (19-2) are No. 2 in the Associated Press poll and 11-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have won 15 consecutive games, the longest streak in Division 1, and are coming off an 87-70 victory on the road over rival North Carolina.

Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward who turned 18 in December, is having one of the best seasons in recent years regardless of age. He is first in analyst Ken Pomeroy’s Player of the Year standings. His 2.737 rating is the second-highest since KenPom began publishing the data in the 2010-11 season, only trailing Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky, who had a 2.794 rating in the 2014-15 season.

Flagg leads Duke with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. As CBS Sports noted last month, former LSU star Ben Simmons is the only freshman to lead a team in all five of those categories since the NCAA began tracking those statistics in the 1985-86 season.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo spoke with a horde of NBA scouts and executives to get their thoughts  on Flagg’s game. While he drew comps to NBA greats ranging from Grant Hill to Jayson Tatum, executives cautioned that Flagg’s scoring is not yet where it could be.

“It looks like [Duke head coach Jon] Scheyer has been intentionally putting him in situations where it’s, ‘OK, go, get a basket,’” one Western Conference executive said. “It doesn’t look like the primary creation is there for him quite yet. There’s a hope that he can be a go-to guy on offense. It seems like he’s got the vision and passing, but the individual scoring stuff has to get better.”

Fans saw this first-hand during the annual Champions Classic. With Duke and Kentucky locked in a tie game with 12 seconds left, Flagg committed two turnovers over seven seconds of game time as the Wildcats escaped with a