Cooper Flagg made a dominant Saturday night entrance to the UNC-Duke rivalry. The prospective top pick of the 2025 NBA draft recorded 21 points as No. 2 Duke cruised to an 87-70 win over visiting North Carolina.
He and fellow freshman Kon Knueppel, who led the team with 22 points, helped the Blue Devils extend their winning streak to 15 straight games. Flagg set the tone early as he put up nine points in the first five minutes to help put Duke on track for a 22-point first-half lead.
Flagg proved to be impossible for UNC defenders to cover as the game went on. He finished the night having shot 6-for-14 from the field and 3-for-5 from behind the arc. Flagg led the Blue Devils with both eight rebounds and seven assists, while adding three steals and two blocks to a stat line that reflected his dominance on both sides of the court.
The performance solidified some fans' opinion that Flagg has already ended the debate as to who should be the No. 1 selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. Flagg, who turned 18 on Dec. 21, is set to be the second-youngest college player ever selected should he enter the draft, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
RJ Davis and Drake Powell tied for the UNC team lead with 12 points each in the loss. The Tar Heels fell to 13-10 overall and 6-5 in the conference. Duke meanwhile improved to 19-2 overall, and 10-0 in the ACC. The Blue Devils remain behind Auburn for the top spot in the AP men's basketball rankings.
The Tigers are set to face ranked opponents including No. 5 Florida and No. 4 Alabama over the next two weeks. If Auburn loses a second game, Duke could get the chance to challenge for the No. 1 spot as March Madness approaches.
The Blue Devils return to action Wednesday for a road game against Syracuse. Before Flagg potentially enters the draft, Duke will look for him and Knueppel to lead the way into a potential NCAA Tournament run.
