NEWARK, N.J. — During an intense matchup against Alabama, Duke’s freshman standout Cooper Flagg made a spectacular defensive play by blocking a shot that soared into the crowd. This moment signified Duke’s determination as they clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four with a commanding 85-65 win during the East Region final.
Although Flagg faced challenges with his shooting, making only 6 of his 16 attempts, he still contributed with 16 points. His teammate, Kon Knueppel, led the team with a remarkable 21 points, followed by Tyrese Proctor who added 17 points to the scoreboard, celebrating the victory with a piece of the net draped around his neck.
The Blue Devils’ defensive prowess proved crucial as they stifled Alabama’s formidable offense, which had recently delivered a record-breaking performance. Alabama struggled, posting a season-low 35.4% from the field and matching their fourth-worst game from beyond the arc with just 25% accuracy (8 of 32).
Duke’s coach Jon Scheyer praised his team’s defense, saying, “To hold them to 65 points is incredible.” He emphasized the strategy of avoiding spreading out defensively against Alabama’s offense, which had scored an impressive 113 points and hit a staggering 25 three-pointers in their previous game.
Mark Sears, Alabama’s shooting star who nearly set a tournament record with 10 three-pointers in an earlier round, managed to score only one three-pointer and six points in total, marking his lowest output since January. Alabama’s coach Nate Oats noted Duke’s extensive lineup as a key factor in limiting his team’s scoring.
Having achieved their 15th consecutive victory, the top-seeded Blue Devils (35-3) are on their way to the Final Four in San Antonio, where they will face the winner between Houston and Tennessee. Despite dashing hopes for an all-Southeastern Conference Final Four, the win leaves the possibility of all four top seeds meeting in the semifinals, a rarity that last occurred in 2008.
Khaman Maluach, known for his impressive reach, contributed 14 points with high efficiency, alongside several blocks and altered shots, aiding in Duke’s dominance despite a tough night for star player Flagg.
Although Flagg had a challenging performance with his shots, his overall contribution remained significant, including nine rebounds and an emphatic block. Duke’s defensive game plan effectively targeted Alabama’s Sears, suffocating his opportunities and limiting his effectiveness on the court.
Alabama’s second-seeded team struggled to find their groove, with the team leader, Labaron Philon, scoring 16 points but failing to outperform Duke’s tenacity.
Scheyer, guiding Duke back to the Final Four for the first time since Mike Krzyzewski led the team in 2022, commended his roster of talent where several players hold NBA potential. He described his team as “Loose, confident, competitive and not fazed by this environment,” entrusting his youthful squad, spearheaded by Flagg, with the ambition of bringing the championship title back to Duke for the first time since 2015.
Significantly, the only prior Final Four event featuring all No. 1 seeds was in 2008, under similar circumstances in San Antonio, involving Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, and North Carolina.
Meanwhile, in a brighter moment for Alabama fans, the university’s women’s wheelchair basketball team triumphed over Texas-Arlington 67-52, securing their fifth consecutive national championship shortly before Duke and Alabama tipped off.