Category: Duke Blue Devils

An interesting hot take about Cooper Flagg floored a pair of Chicago radio hosts

The NBA world is waiting for the arrival of Duke basketball superstar Cooper Flagg this summer and fans of many organizations are hoping they can lose as many games as possible this season with the hope of getting a better chance to land the top overall selection.

However, a specific NBA analyst of a premier franchise doesn’t think his team needs Cooper Flagg because of a current rookie the team already boasts.

Kendall Gill, a 15-year NBA veteran and current studio analyst for the Chicago Bulls, thinks that Matas Buzelis has a brighter future than the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.

“He’s bigger, he can handle the basketball better. In my opinion, he’s more athletic and they both have the same mentality, but I like Matas’ upside simply because I like his athleticism more and I like his mentality more than Cooper Flagg.”

.@KendallG13 believes Matas Buzelis is better than Cooper Flagg now and will be better than Flagg in the years to come.

“Three years from now, you’re going to be saying Kendall was right,” Gill says.

The hosts of the show were left stunned at the comments.

Buzelis was a 5-star recruit before electing to play last season with the NBA G-League Ignite and averaged 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game where he became the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

His rookie season has been a struggle, averaging 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest and was not named as one of the 21 players selected for the NBA Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend.

“I just think his upside is tremendous,” Gill explained.

Meanwhile, Copper Flagg has done it all this season for the No. 3 Blue Devils, averaging 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game and emerged as the frontrunner for the National Player of the Year.

The Bulls currently sit with a one and a half game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament and have the 8th best odds of landing the top pick in the NBA Draft.

Jon Scheyer’s arrival as head coach of Duke basketball has marked a significant transformation in the program, with his leadership ushering in a new era of modern basketball tactics, strategic versatility, and roster depth. After taking over for the legendary Mike Krzyzewski in 2022, Scheyer faced the formidable challenge of maintaining the Blue Devils’ elite status while evolving the team’s style of play to meet the demands of contemporary college basketball. Through his innovative approach, Scheyer has ensured that Duke remains a perennial powerhouse in the NCAA.

One of Scheyer’s key contributions to Duke basketball has been his emphasis on modern tactics. While Coach K was known for his discipline, methodical offense, and dominant post play, Scheyer has made it clear that the game has evolved. The emphasis now is on pace, space, and three-point shooting, all vital components in the modern game. Scheyer has shifted Duke’s offense to better reflect these changes, with faster ball movement, a greater reliance on the perimeter, and more dynamic transition play. The Blue Devils are not just a half-court team but one that thrives on pushing the tempo, exploiting mismatches, and taking advantage of open shots from beyond the arc. This strategic overhaul has not only modernized Duke’s offense but has also made them more unpredictable and harder to defend.

Furthermore, Scheyer has embraced positional versatility, which has become a hallmark of his coaching philosophy. The concept of positionless basketball has been central to his recruitment strategy, as he seeks players who are capable of impacting the game in multiple areas regardless of their size or position. This has led to a more fluid style of play where players can interchange roles seamlessly, and the Blue Devils have developed a roster that can execute on both ends of the floor. Scheyer’s ability to adapt and mix up his lineups has provided the team with an array of offensive and defensive looks, making them flexible and adaptable against a variety of opponents.

Scheyer’s success has also been driven by his emphasis on depth. Unlike previous Duke teams that relied heavily on a few star players, Scheyer has cultivated a roster with significant depth at nearly every position. This approach not only provides the Blue Devils with more scoring options but also allows them to stay fresh throughout the grueling college basketball season. Scheyer has shown an ability to develop young talent quickly, ensuring that freshmen are ready to contribute right away. His trust in his bench has also led to a more balanced distribution of playing time, fostering competition and helping to maintain high energy levels throughout games.

In addition to these tactical adjustments, Scheyer has also fostered a culture of player development and accountability. Under his leadership, Duke has seen tremendous growth in individual players’ skill sets, with many flourishing in roles that maximize their strengths. His ability to blend modern basketball principles with Duke’s storied tradition has made the program a force to be reckoned with once again.

Jon Scheyer’s transformative approach has positioned Duke basketball for sustained success in the future. Through his emphasis on modern tactics, positional versatility, depth, and player development, he has brought the Blue Devils into a new era of college basketball while ensuring they remain competitive at the highest level. As Duke continues to thrive under his guidance, Scheyer’s impact on the program will likely be felt for years to come.

In a groundbreaking announcement, the NCAA has officially recognized Duke Blue Devils freshman Cooper Flagg as the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) of the 2025-26 NCAA Draft Class. Flagg, a highly touted recruit who has been on the radar of basketball scouts since his high school days, has now solidified his place as the top prospect in the nation.

Flagg, who committed to Duke after an extraordinary high school career, has already impressed coaches, analysts, and fans alike with his remarkable skills and basketball IQ. Standing at 6’8″ with a unique combination of size, agility, and playmaking ability, he has shown that he’s not just a future NBA star, but a generational talent. His versatile scoring, elite defense, and leadership qualities have made him a standout, and the NCAA’s decision to crown him the G.O.A.T of his class is a testament to his potential.

The announcement has generated a wave of excitement, with Duke fans and basketball enthusiasts eagerly awaiting his debut on the collegiate stage. Flagg’s arrival in Durham marks the beginning of what is expected to be a historic college career. Experts have already begun to draw comparisons to some of the greatest players to ever grace the NCAA, with many predicting he’ll be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

As the 2025-26 season approaches, all eyes will be on Cooper Flagg. With the weight of the G.O.A.T title now on his shoulders, he will be under immense pressure to live up to the hype, but if his past performances are any indication, Flagg is more than ready for the challenge.

Duke Blue Devils fans are reeling after the team’s heartbreaking loss at Clemson, compounded by the indefinite suspension of their star player, Kon Knueppel. The suspension, announced late Sunday, has left the Duke community in shock and uncertainty as they navigate the aftermath of their tough 79-72 defeat on the road.

Knueppel, a freshman standout, has quickly become one of the team’s most reliable players, known for his impressive shooting, defensive versatility, and leadership on the court. His absence for an unspecified duration is a major blow to the Blue Devils’ already struggling lineup. With March Madness on the horizon, the timing of the suspension could have serious implications for their postseason aspirations.

While Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, has yet to publicly disclose the exact reasons behind Knueppel’s suspension, he assured fans that the decision was made after careful consideration. “Kon is an important part of our team, and we are fully supportive of him as he addresses this matter. We will continue to work hard and prepare for what lies ahead,” Scheyer said in a brief statement.

The loss at Clemson marked the Blue Devils’ third defeat in their last five games, putting their status as a potential NCAA Tournament contender in jeopardy. Fans, who had hoped for a strong finish to the season, are now faced with the uncertainty of how the team will fare without their key player.

As the Duke Blue Devils brace for the challenges ahead, all eyes will be on Knueppel’s return, with fans hoping for his swift return to the court. Until then, the Blue Devils will need to rally together and find a way to remain competitive without their star.

The Duke Blue Devils lost their last game on Saturday, Feb. 8 against the Clemson Tigers 77-71. Once the clock hit zero, Tigers fans in attendance stormed the court to celebrate the victory over the Blue Devils.

Head coach Jon Scheyer was spotted stepping in front of his players and the fans as soon as the courtstorming commenced. The Duke head coach was even spotted getting physical with one apparent student on the court and was held back by one of his players.

On Monday, Scheyer openly spoke about protecting his players from Tigers fans rushing onto the court. The 37-year-old head coach called out the Clemson security team for allowing copious amounts of fans to run onto the floor, according to Chapel Fowler of The State Newspaper and The State News Guild.

“We gotta get our players off the court for safety. That wasn’t a safe environment. No question about it. I was put in a position where I was shielding our guys from people running up and getting in their face.”

It was a chaotic moment for players and fans alike as Scheyer immediately put himself in front of his players. Court-storming has become a controversial topic in sports lately due to how dangerous it can be for all involved.

In February 2024, a similar situation occurred when Wake Forest fans stormed the court and ran into former Blue Devils star Kyle Filipowski. He injured his leg in the incident but suited up for the next game.

Duke will be back in action on Wednesday when they take on the California Golden Bears in a home game.

With eight games remaining on the schedule, the Blue Devils aim to get back in the win column as they prepare for the ACC Championship and upcoming March Madness Tournament.

Cooper Flagg has been dominant for the Duke basketball team over the last few weeks but it felt like something has been off while watching him.

In the Blue Devils’ victory against Syracuse on Wednesday, Flagg wasn’t looking to score nor was he aggressive on the offensive end and finished with only 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in 28 minutes in a blowout victory.

It was more of the same for the first 34 minutes of Duke’s (20-3, 12-1 ACC) loss at Clemson in which he was nonexistent before shining in the final six minutes and after the game he revealed he has been battling an illness.

“I’ve been a little bit under the weather with a cold, virus or whatever,” Flagg said after the 77-71 loss. “No excuses. I’ve got to be able to play through it. Have to find a way.”

Cooper Flagg was also dealing with cramping late in the second half but never had to come off the court as he finished with 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

“We still made plays throughout the end of the game, and we’re in a position to win the game. We’ve got to come out and make those plays.”

Duke has been missing forward Mason Gillis for its last two games due to an illness that forced him to remain in Durham and not travel with the team.

Jon Scheyer confirmed Flagg’s illness during the ACC teleconference on Monday saying that it has limited his game preparation but did not get into specifics if the freshman superstar has missed practice.

The Blue Devils return to the court on Wednesday night (9:00 p.m. ET, ACC Network) against California (12-12, 5-8 ACC) inside Cameron Indoor Stadium while hosting Stanford (16-8, 8-5 ACC) on Saturday afternoon (4:00 p.m. ET, ABC).

Jay Bilas knows all about elite college basketball action. After all, ESPN’s popular broadcaster and analyst was once himself a star player at Duke.

But even Bilas, someone who played in the 80s and has been a member of ESPN’s coverage since the 90s, has not seen anything like what the SEC is compiling this season. He appeared on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Tuesday and said he hasn’t seen “anything remotely” like what the league is doing this year.

“I have never seen anything remotely like what we’re seeing in the Southeastern Conference this year. The nonconference success has not been seen since the ACC in the mid 1980s. That’s so long ago, I played in the league back then,” said Bilas. “But the biggest difference in comparing those two is that the ACC was 8 teams then. It’s a lot easier to have 8 really good teams than it is to have 16 really good teams.”

The season of historic play from the SEC will include a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup this Saturday when Auburn and Alabama face off. That will be the first-ever No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in league history, but the league is so deep, it might just be the first of multiple such showdowns this season.

Bilas went on to describe this year’s SEC as the most powerful league “there has ever been” in college basketball. He explained why it will cause some issues come Selection Sunday, pointing to a South Carolina team who is winless in the SEC but has a win over Clemson, the 2nd place team in the ACC.

“It’s gonna cause the (NCAA) Tournament selection a problem because you’re going to have teams with losing records in conference play that are going to be significantly better than some teams finishing in the top 3 or 4 in a couple of other power leagues… every game in this league is Quad 1,” explained Bilas. “It’s absurd… This is the most powerful basketball league top to bottom that there has ever been.”

As for the latest SEC Championship odds, Auburn continues to lead the way at bet365 at -250. Alabama (+220) is also in the mix while Florida (+2200) and Texas A&M (+7500) lag behind. Use the sports betting app that best suites you to get in on the latest odds.

As for the latest NCAA Tournament bracketology projections from ESPN, Joe Lunardi includes a whopping 13 SEC teams getting in. We’ll see if that comes to fruition as we head toward March Madness.

The No. 3-ranked Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team suffered just their third loss of the season last Saturday night. However, it was their first in ACC play, as they fell in a 77-71 upset to Clemson on the road.

The now AP-ranked No. 23 Tigers entered the matchup on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games, and were looking to hand the perennial powerhouse Blue Devils another loss—this time on their home court in front of a sellout crowd. They did just that, and as the final buzzer sounded, thousands of Clemson fans stormed the court in celebration.

The moment was expected given the magnitude of the game. However, as Duke head coach Jon Scheyer recently pointed out, it was far from a safe environment.

“Look, it was a tough situation,” Scheyer said (h/t Chapel Fowler). “I didn’t want to say anything about it, you know, because I didn’t want it to take away from the job that Clemson did. Clemson, man, they played a big-time game and got a big-time win—and that should have been the story. But it’s crossing my mind at the end of the game about trying to make sure our players are safe. And that shouldn’t be my responsibility in that moment. Security should have that taken care of.”

In a last-ditch effort to tie the game, Cooper Flagg missed a three-pointer, sealing the win for Clemson and triggering the court storm. A video from the game shows Scheyer and his staff physically pushing back fans in an attempt to shield Duke players from the rush of people.

“That wasn’t a safe environment. No question about it,” Scheyer added. “… I don’t think we want something to happen and then have to make a decision to do something. That’s not for Brad (Brownell) to worry about. That’s not for his staff, their team. They did an incredible job. I’m concerned for our players’ safety in that case. No question.”

This will certainly be something to monitor, as court-storming and field-storming incidents have increased over the last couple of seasons. In the SEC, teams face hefty fines when fans rush the playing surface. If situations like the one at Littlejohn Coliseum persist, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips may be forced to address it in the near future.

The Blue Devils missed the veteran transfer in their first ACC loss.

Duke basketball (20-3, 12-1 ACC) has been without veteran transfer wing Mason Gillis for two games now. Gillis has been dealing with an illness and didn’t travel with the team to JMA Wireless Dome on February 6th when the Blue Devils took down Syracuse 83-54 or to Clemson when the Blue Devils fell for the first time in ACC play 77-71 this past Saturday.

The wing tried to get on the plane to join the team, but Duke head coach Jon Scheyer didn’t allow it.

“He was trying to get on the plane, and we told him, ‘There’s no way.’ We’ll see when we get back. We’ll see how he is [Thursday]. But if he’s not here, that means he’s really under the weather, not feeling well,” Scheyer said after the victory over the Orange.

Now, Duke has a three day break before it’s next matchup, a home game against California (12-12, 5-8 ACC) on Wednesday (9:00pm ET, ACC Network).

“I think not having Mason is a big deal,” Scheyer said following the loss to Clemson. “I didn’t feel we really had a true sub for him. Either we went smaller, or we would have played with some lineups that offensively wouldn’t be as good for us either. We were having a hard time scoring, so that’s something that I have to figure out.”

The Blue Devils had a tough time finding rhythm scoring in the second half against the Tigers, making just 9-of-29 (31%) field goals. Gillis only averages 4.9 points, but his three-point shooting threat allows the Blue Devils to space the floor that much more with him out there.

What makes it difficult to sub Gillis out is at the same time he’s a talented shooter, he’s also 6′ 6″ and 245 pounds with the ability to post up inside and either score back-to-the-basket or kick it out.

The senior had made 8-of-14 (57.1%) of his three point attempts over his previous five games before his injury. The hope is Gillis will be ready to go at home Wednesday night with three days of rest.