Cooper Flagg didn’t play well on Saturday. He wasn’t feeling well either.
Flagg, Duke’s preseason All-American, struggled with cramping during a 77-71 loss to Clemson. After the game, he admitted that he had been dealing with an illness, though he didn’t want to use that as an excuse for what might have been his worst performance of the season.
Flagg missed nine of his first 11 shots, including several attempts close to the basket, and had just four points in the first 34 minutes. He started to heat up toward the end of the game, finishing with 18 points, including three key 3-pointers. However, he made a crucial turnover with 14 seconds remaining when he slipped and fell while trying to drive to the basket with the Blue Devils trailing by two points.
Flagg finished the game shooting 6 of 17 from the field.
“I was definitely cramping throughout the end of the game,” Flagg said. “I have been a little under the weather with a cold, or a little virus or whatever. No excuses as you have to be able to play through it. We have to be able to find a way. We were in position to win the game but we have to make those plays.”
Coach Jon Scheyer mentioned that the team might need to reduce Flagg’s workload, saying, “we put so much on his shoulders and I have to help take some of that off because there is so much we ask of him defensively and offensively.”
Scheyer added that it’s time to get Flagg healthy.
“We just have to get his body refreshed and reenergized,” Scheyer said. “He didn’t have that same (energy) the last couple of days in practice. We have to get him back.”
Tyrese Proctor stepped up in Flagg’s absence, scoring 23 points, just one shy of his career high. He knew he had to carry more of the scoring load with Flagg struggling.
“Coop’s good,” Proctor said. “Obviously he might have been under the weather, but he competed and he fought. He will be the first one to tell you that he’s not going to use that as an excuse, and neither are we.”
Clemson coach Brad Brownell said the game plan was to put pressure on Flagg and make things tough for him. The Tigers did just that for most of the game, which gave them confidence going into next month’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Clemson and Duke“We wanted to do what we can to make his catches a little tougher,” Brownell said. “Nothing that nobody else hasn’t done. But be physical. They had other guys making shots too that made it hard on us. He was great down the stretch. We did just a good enough job to win.”
Scheyer said the loss was disappointing.
Not only did it end No. 2 Duke’s chances of becoming the first ACC team to finish 20-0 in the regular season, but it also ended a 16-game winning streak and took away the chance for the Blue Devils to claim the No. 1 spot in the country. Auburn, ranked No. 1, lost earlier in the day to Florida, so No. 3 Alabama could now take the top spot.
“It hurts because I think this team is capable of special things,” Scheyer said.
Meanwhile, it was another big win for Clemson, with ESPN commentator Dick Vitale back at the announcer’s table after his fourth battle with cancer.
Clemson had previously beaten No. 4 Kentucky 70-66 at Littlejohn Coliseum in December.
The Tigers got strong performances on Saturday from Viktor Lakhin, who scored 22 points, as well as Ian Schieffelin and Chase Hunter, who combined for six of Clemson’s final eight points. It also showed the “Clemson grit” Brownell often talks about, as the Tigers bounced back with a big win after an 89-86 triple overtime loss to Georgia Tech earlier in the week.
“Tonight is about our guys, really,” Brownell said. “Our guys mustered up the spirit and energy after a tough loss and really just doing what we needed to do to get ourselves a chance to win. They made the plays they have to make in a tough game, so that was awesome.”
