If there was any question that Cooper Flagg wouldn’t be healthy enough for a championship run, he quickly silenced those doubts. Flagg scored with ease, contested shots, and soared for a huge two-handed slam dunk, all in the first ten minutes of the game. Flagg’s return from injury not only sparked a huge win but solidified Duke’s championship contender status. While Mount St. Mary’s isn’t Auburn, the win looked so easy for Flagg and company. They showed all the signs of what will translate to better opponents. The first-round blowout is only the beginning of the Blue Devils’ run.
Cooper Flagg Returns from Injury, Duke Championship Hopes Thriving
Flagg’s Dominant Return from Injury Flashes Big Game Potential
After an ugly injury against Georgia Tech, people feared the worst. However, Flagg came out in as good of form as ever. He sat out most of the second half in the blowout win, but he impacted ways in every possible way. Flagg finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Again, Flagg’s impact is beyond the numbers that got him ACC Player of the Year. He influences his opponent so much that others can feed off his mere presence. Tyrese Proctor took advantage of Flagg’s attention and scored 19 points.
At the end of the day, one trend continues: on the biggest stage, Cooper Flagg shows up. You never would have guessed Flagg was returning from a recent injury because he looked as dominant as ever. Why? It’s time to win a championship. He turns it on when the lights are brightest, making him an ultimate threat in the NCAA Tournament, and opening up the role players for larger roles.
Duke’s Defense Will Dominate Throughout
Duke entered the tournament with the fourth-best defensive efficiency according to KenPom. That was on full display against Mount St. Mary’s on Friday. Again, they weren’t a serious threat in the NCAA Tournament, but they flashed a big-time offense in the First Four against American. Duke held them scoreless for almost nine minutes in the second half. After scoring 48 in the first half against American, the Mountaineers struggled to reach that total in the whole game. Flagg’s return from injury only intensified the defense on their squad. Against Baylor, that defense will show up. The only thing that translates from stadium to stadium is defense. It is the most reliable part of any team’s NCAA Tournament success.
The Last Word
Baylor will test the Blue Devils, but they are a flawed team. The 56th-ranked defense according to KenPom, Baylor will rely on their elite offense (16th) to keep themselves in the game. However, Duke’s third-ranked offense will feast on the poor defense. In fact, no team in their Sweet Sixteen section of the bracket ranks in the top 25 in defense. With Flagg’s return from injury and strong momentum, Duke is primed for the deep run that most people expected. The only thing people wanted to see was whether Flagg was healthy. Flagg proved he was more than healthy, and Duke is more than capable of winning the championship.
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