Tag: Duke

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Basketball

Caleb Love fights hard for Arizona, scoring 35 points in Sweet 16 defeat to Duke

Caleb Love dunks in the 2nd half

Caleb Love once ended Duke’s run at the Final Four and also ended Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career.

Three years later, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Cooper Flagg and Duke knocked out Love and Arizona, ending both his college career and their season.

Love celebrated his 3-pointers with chest thumps — and he made a few. He powered through defenders and helped Arizona stay close to Flagg and top-seeded Duke.

But despite his 35 points in 40 minutes, it wasn’t enough to keep his career and Arizona’s season alive.

Flagg led Duke with 30 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three blocks in their 100-93 victory, pushing Duke one win away from the Final Four and ending Arizona’s run.

However, Love left with his teammates expressing their gratitude for him and his impact on the team after he transferred from North Carolina. There, Love had ended Coach K’s career, and at Arizona, he helped them reach a No. 4 seed in March Madness.

Teammates like Jaden Bradley, Henri Veesaar, and coach Tommy Lloyd shared heartfelt words, praising Love’s leadership and presence on the team. Veesaar, unprompted, spoke up: “Anybody ever thinks he’s not a good teammate, it’s not true. He’s the best teammate we had. He’s one of the better persons I’ve ever met. He’s pushed me so much over the last two years, I’m so grateful for him.”

Veesaar continued, sharing how Love had helped him improve. “In the tournament, I was struggling, he talked to me. He came up to me after I missed the free throw because we had been — he made me practice free throws after that game. After that he just came up to me, hey, we worked way too hard, you got this. After that I didn’t miss a free throw, I made seven in a row.”

Bradley also stood up for Love, saying, “You don’t see the workouts and the stuff we do off the court. Y’all don’t see that. He really took all of us under his wing. He’s a leader. He’s been through so much and taught us all so much. So definitely going to learn a lot, miss playing with him. He’s just a great guy.”

Love also got a lot of help from Bradley, who scored 15 points. Love himself finished with 35 points, just one shy of his career high, including 15 straight points during a fierce second-half rally that brought Arizona within five points of Duke with 1:56 left.

Cooper Flagg reacts after making a 3 point basket in the 1st half

Despite the loss, Love expressed how grateful he was to play with Arizona. “I went through a lot transferring from my other school, and they took me under their wing, and they accepted me for who I was,” Love said. “I just want to give all my thanks to them because without them, I wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be the player that I’ve grown to be.”

The player who scored 27 points in the second half of North Carolina’s Sweet 16 win on their way to the 2022 Final Four was now seen as someone who shot too much, struggled to perform, and hurt the team. So, he entered the transfer portal.

His move to Michigan was blocked by issues with the admissions office. Coach Lloyd, while on a family trip in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, received a call from Love, who expressed interest in visiting Arizona’s campus.

Love narrowed his choices down to three schools before deciding on Arizona, choosing them over Gonzaga and Texas.

Lloyd believed in Love and worked hard to bring him into the Wildcats fold. He was one of the last to hug Love as Arizona’s season ended in March.

“I hope everybody takes a step back, whether they’ve been a hater or whatever or pile on, and give this guy a real chance because he’s special,” Lloyd said. “This is what I know. When he gets there, the right team is going to wrap their arms around him and they’re going to see they’ve got a guy who’s been through it. Been through it, and he’s come out the other side of it better.”

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Basketball

Duke defeats Arizona 100-93 in March Madness, advancing to the Elite Eight

Cooper Flagg reacts after making a 3 point basket in the 1st half

Duke player Cooper Flagg had an impressive game, highlighted by a 3-pointer just before halftime, a no-look pass for an alley-oop, another no-look pass for a 3-pointer, and a huge block that sent the ball into a row of Arizona cheerleaders.

Flagg’s performance helped Duke secure a 100-93 win over Arizona in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, sending the Blue Devils to the next round, just one win away from the Final Four.

Flagg ended the game with 30 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three blocks, making this his biggest win in college so far.

Coach Jon Scheyer, who has seen many great games, said, “That’s one of the best tournament performances I’ve ever coached or been a part of.”

Caleb Love, who has been a challenge for Duke over the past five years, led Arizona with 35 points, one point shy of his career high. Love had 15 straight points during a strong second-half run, helping Arizona cut Duke’s 19-point lead down to just five with 1:56 left in the game.

But in the end, it was Duke, the top seed, who came out on top. Next, they will face Alabama in a 1-vs.-2 matchup on Saturday in the East Region. Alabama set a March Madness record for most 3-pointers in a game, beating BYU 113-88 earlier that evening.

A win would send Duke to the Final Four for the 18th time. The last time Duke reached the Final Four, in 2022, Love was on North Carolina’s team and scored 28 points to end Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s legendary career.

This time, Flagg, who is 18 years old, helped end Love’s college career and showed why he could be the top pick in the NBA draft if he decides to leave.

Coach Scheyer said, “What I’ve wanted from him was not to defer. Just wanted him to fully be him. I thought he was in his element tonight. He was loose, talking, competitive, the whole thing.”

Arizona worked hard to close the gap and got within five when Carter Bryant hit a 3-pointer with 1:56 left. Flagg then made three out of four free throws, and Duke made 9 out of 10 to seal the win.

Cooper Flagg reacts in the 1st half

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said, “They were a machine on offense.”

Duke shot 60% from the floor and 57.9% from 3-point range, finishing a game that saw both teams score over 100 points.

The fourth-seeded Wildcats focused on the 6-foot-9 freshman Flagg, trying to make him work for everything, but he was just too good for them.

Here are a few standout moments from Flagg’s performance

  • At the end of the first half, Duke grabbed Love’s missed 3-pointer, passed it to Flagg, and he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He then turned and screamed “Let’s go, man!” as he ran to the locker room, giving Duke a 48-42 lead.
  • A spinning, no-look pass to Sion James, who made an open 3-pointer early in the second half, as part of a run that stretched Duke’s lead to 19.
  • Two alley-oops, one a no-look pass to Khaman Maluach and another to Kon Knueppel.
  • A huge block against Arizona’s KJ Lewis, sending the ball into a row of Arizona cheerleaders with about five minutes left in the game. This was a key moment because a basket there could have cut Duke’s lead to seven.

Love had a strong game, finishing with 35 points. He missed his first three shots but made 11 of 21 attempts and hit five 3-pointers, keeping his team in the game.

Lloyd praised Love, saying, “He’s had an amazing career and I’m so excited for his future. He was tremendous today. He’s going to wake up tomorrow and he’s going to smile. He has a lot to look forward to and so I’m really, really proud of him.”

Love’s 35 points were seven more than he scored when he helped end Coach K’s career two years ago. This time, he had strong support from Jaden Bradley, who finished with 15 points. But Arizona couldn’t repeat their success from 2011, when they beat Duke in the tournament, knocking out the top-seeded Blue Devils.

Duke’s Maliq Brown returned to action after missing two weeks due to a shoulder injury. He wore a sleeve on his left shoulder and came into the game with 7:51 left in the first half. He played four minutes, finishing with one rebound and one assist.

Arizona had a big win earlier on Thursday when Koa Peat, one of the nation’s top high school recruits, announced on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he would commit to play for the Wildcats. Peat is expected to join LeBron James’ son, Bryce, in coach Tommy Lloyd’s program next season.

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Baseball

The March Madness rivalry reignites as Caleb Love, now with Arizona, faces Duke once more

Caleb Love shoots in the 1st half

If there’s one player Duke or its fans would rather avoid when the stakes are this high, it’s Caleb Love.

Love was once a player for Duke’s biggest rival, North Carolina. Now he plays for Duke’s next opponent, Arizona.

They will meet on Thursday in the Sweet 16, with Love, a fifth-year senior averaging 16.8 points per game for the fourth-seeded Wildcats, trying to ruin another season for the top-seeded Blue Devils, who have seen this story before.

Love was the one who scored 22 points in 2022 to give Coach Mike Krzyzewski a loss in his last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. He’s the same player who, four weeks later, hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left, followed by a couple of free throws to finish off Duke at the Final Four — officially ending Coach K’s career.

“I just think that’s me not being afraid of the moment and me trying to impose my will,” Love said. “Kind of like my St. Louis swagger to the game.”

In nine career games against Duke, he has a 5-4 record. His scoring average in the wins: 20.8. In the losses: 9.8. If Duke (33-3) wins Thursday, it will likely be because the Blue Devils managed to stop Arizona’s best player.

“The thing he does is, he can shoot shots at any time and he can hit shots at any time,” said Jon Scheyer, who succeeded Krzyzewski as Duke’s coach. “He’s an improved passer, someone who’s not afraid. A really good player, and a challenge for our guys.”

Love grew up in St. Louis, committed to North Carolina, and played his first three seasons there

The year after his big wins over Duke, the Tar Heels began the season as the No. 1 team in the poll but became the first preseason No. 1 to miss March Madness.

The player who scored 27 points in the second half of the Sweet 16 win on the way to the 2022 Final Four was suddenly seen as someone who shot too much, couldn’t perform when needed, and was slowing down the Tar Heels.

He decided to enter the transfer portal. A move to Michigan was blocked by issues with the admissions department. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd was on a family trip in Puerto Vallarta when Love called and said he wanted to visit the campus.

Caleb Love and Nate Bittle in the 2nd half

“My wife flew down and right when she landed, I said ‘I’m going back to Tucson for another day,’” Lloyd said. “Went back, had a great visit, and he committed. Listen, it’s been an awesome experience.”

Since the bracket was released, the chance of this reunion has been on everyone’s mind. When Love was asked about it on TV after Arizona’s win over Oregon last Sunday, he seemed ready to answer, but he paused, gave a small grin, and took the diplomatic route: “We’ll be ready for them when it’s time.”

Asked about that moment on Wednesday, he explained: “I didn’t want to give them no fuel or bulletin board material. I just wanted to focus on what this group got to do and not give them anything that they can feed off of.”

Not a bad approach.

Starting with freshman Cooper Flagg, whose ankle injury seems like it’s no longer a major concern, the Blue Devils have up to six players who could be chosen in the NBA draft.

With so much talent, they weren’t challenged during the first week of the tournament, beating Mount Saint Mary’s by 44 points and Baylor by 23. Out of their 33 wins this season, 28 — including one in November against these Wildcats — have been by double digits. Of those, 11 have been by 30 or more points.

So, it’s no surprise that the Wildcats are entering this game as a 9 1/2-point underdog — the largest spread in a Sweet 16 filled with top programs.

That doesn’t change how Love is thinking as he heads into his 10th matchup against the Blue Devils.

“We’re not shying away from anything,” he said.

Caleb Love reacts in the 2nd half

Knowing how he’s troubled them before, why would he?

In Thursday’s opening East Regional game, Alabama faces BYU in a matchup of two of the best offenses in the country. Because of that, both teams are focusing on defense.

The second-seeded Crimson Tide will take on the sixth-seeded Cougars in a game expected to be fast-paced, with plenty of 3-point shots and transition baskets.

Alabama coach Nate Oats said his scouting report sees BYU, which is shifting to a more open, NBA-style of play, as having the best offense in college basketball since February 12.

The Crimson Tide doesn’t need to make such claims — they lead the nation in scoring with 90.8 points per game.

“It should be a very fun game, but it’s going to come down to getting stops,” said Mark Sears, who leads the Tide in points (18.6) and assists (5.0).

Both teams can score from anywhere. They favor 3-pointers — both are in the country’s top 25 for attempts — or high-percentage layups. They are both ranked in the top 10 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ratings.

“I’m excited to hopefully be able to play some good defense, not have it be 150-149, or something like that,” BYU’s Trevin Knell said.

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Duke’s Cooper Flagg makes a strong March Madness return after recovering from an ankle injury

Cooper Flagg celebrates after a goal

Cooper Flagg had always dreamed of being a part of March Madness.

A sprained ankle he got last week wasn’t going to stop him from chasing that dream for Duke’s freshman star.

“I mean, this is something that I’ve dreamed about since I was 6, 7 years old, watching every single year with my family, my friends,” Flagg said.

In other words, he wasn’t going to miss the first-round game for the top-seeded Blue Devils against 16-seed Mount St. Mary’s on Friday unless he was on crutches, in a cast, or couldn’t even stand on his left ankle.

He had missed the last two games because of an injury from the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament but looked comfortable and unfazed in his NCAA Tournament debut.

Flagg ended the game with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 22 minutes, leading the team with a plus-31 before finishing early with the game already won.

“Honestly for me, after watching the whole ACC Tournament, it was more of just like a plan to just be ready for this game, and we just put a plan in place,” Flagg said. “We have phases, a strategy of just getting back, getting prepared, and being ready.”

The 6-foot-9 Flagg is a possible No. 1 overall NBA draft pick and was chosen unanimously as an Associated Press first-team All-American. He has an all-around game that makes him a game-changing player both as a scorer and a playmaker.

At the age of 18, Cooper Flagg is already a key player for the Blue Devils

Duke needs him if they want to win their sixth national championship. Even though they were expected to win easily against a weaker opponent, there was still a lot riding on what Flagg could do on the court.

The good news for Duke was that Flagg — who was greeted by loud cheers and a call of “Cooooooooop!” during introductions — quickly showed what he could do.

His first basket came after he received a pass from Tyrese Proctor and made a shot while being fouled by Xavier Lipscomb, causing Flagg to fall to the floor. He landed with his fists clenched and his arms in a light flex, a move he often uses to celebrate, then nodded as if the contact was his way of getting into the game, less than two minutes into the match.

Duke players in the 2nd half

A few minutes later, he made a backdoor cut and dunked the ball after receiving a pass from Patrick Ngongba. “I thought he looked pretty good,” freshman teammate Kon Knueppel said. “He was sharp.”

Flagg’s every move was closely watched by his home-state fans, his teammates, and coach Jon Scheyer.

“The biggest thing for me was him not pacing, I didn’t want him to pace,” Scheyer said. “Then obviously making sure he was moving, where he wasn’t off-balance or favoring one leg or the other.”

Flagg left the game for the final time at the 10:53 mark with Duke ahead by 32 points. He spent the last few minutes hopping around, laughing, and cheering on the players finishing the game.

“We were ready for him to play more,” Scheyer said. “But I think the way it worked out obviously was really good.”

Flagg got hurt when he rolled his ankle after his foot hit a Georgia Tech player’s foot as he came down for a rebound in the ACC quarterfinals last Thursday. He watched the rest of the tournament from the bench alongside versatile defender Maliq Brown, who got a shoulder injury just before Flagg’s.

However, Flagg was healthy enough to climb the ladder and cut a piece of the net after Duke won the title last weekend.

Scheyer said Flagg had used an underwater treadmill in the days following the injury. Flagg had said Thursday that he was ready to play after returning to full practice on Wednesday.

That’s why Flagg’s nervousness on Friday had nothing to do with his ankle.

“I didn’t have any doubts in my ankle at all,” he said. “But I definitely had some jitters. Like I said, this is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid.”

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Duke coach states it’s time to get Cooper Flagg “recharged and revitalized” following his illness, in Durham

Clemson a

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.”

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Cooper Flagg and Duke basketball are setting a historic assist pace, closing in on a 73-year-old record for assists in Durham, NC

Cooper Flagg-Duke Basketball

Duke basketball doesn’t have a traditional point guard like Bobby Hurley, Dick Groat, Jay Williams, or Tyus Jones, but the team is still finding success with its unique approach.

This season, Duke (19-2, 11-0 ACC) is on track to achieve the best assist rate in 73 years. The Blue Devils are assisting on 60.9% of their baskets, which is close to the program’s best mark of 66.1% set in the 1951-52 season with Groat leading the way.

For context, the 1991-92 season with Hurley had a 58.9% assist rate, and the 2000-01 national championship team, with Williams at point guard, finished with a 57.6% assist rate.

So, how are the Blue Devils making this work without a classic point guard? Coach Jon Scheyer attributes it to “modern basketball” and multiple ball handlers. He’s praised his players for their unselfishness, often passing up good shots for better ones.

Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg (NCAA)

Freshman Cooper Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward, has become a key playmaker for Duke, averaging 4.2 assists per game and leading the team with 89 assists. Scheyer has said, “Cooper really is a point guard in a lot of ways for us.”

But Flagg isn’t the only one contributing. Duke has five other players with at least 20 total assists, including Sion James, Kon Knueppel, and Tyrese Proctor, who are all averaging multiple assists per game. Scheyer highlights how having players with a great feel for the game, who can pass, handle the ball, and shoot, makes Duke a more dynamic team.

In short, Duke might not have a traditional point guard, but it has plenty of playmakers, and that’s working well for them this season.

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Duke dominates UNC in first half, cruising to an 87-70 win in Durham

Copper Flagg reacts after scoring in the 1st half

Duke’s freshmen shined on Saturday, delivering a strong performance that quickly took the excitement out of the rivalry with North Carolina.

The game, which was expected to be a dramatic renewal of the Duke-North Carolina rivalry, turned into a one-sided affair with second-ranked Duke dominating early. By halftime, it was clear the Blue Devils were in control, and they went on to win 87-70.

This result highlighted Duke’s impressive potential, while also showing the struggles that UNC faces as they try to stay on track for an NCAA Tournament spot.

“I think it just shows when we come locked in and ready, and we stick to our game plan, what we can do,” said Duke’s standout freshman, Cooper Flagg.

Flagg, who is considered a top NBA draft prospect, and fellow freshman Kon Knueppel led the charge for Duke. Knueppel scored a game-high 22 points, while Flagg added 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Neither player appeared nervous in their first Duke-UNC game. By the time the game began, it was clear Duke was already in control.

“We whupped us, they kicked us — straight and back, right from the jump,” UNC guard Seth Trimble said bluntly.

Duke (19-2, 11-0 ACC) made an early statement with a 16-0 run in the first seven minutes. Shortly after, they put together an 11-0 run, taking a 40-13 lead. The Blue Devils were up by 32 points midway through the second half.

There was no chance for a memorable moment like Austin Rivers’ buzzer-beater for Duke in 2012 or the more recent drama of coaching changes at both schools. In 2022, UNC stunned Duke in the Final Four, ending Coach K’s career with a victory, and they’ve had some success in recent years, including a win in the first meeting of the 2023 season.

But on Saturday, there was no such drama. Duke’s offensive efficiency and defensive pressure forced UNC to take difficult shots and make mistakes. The Blue Devils played with intensity and focus, outclassing the Tar Heels in every way.

Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg after the game

“We just kept talking about: our edge, our focus. And these guys had it,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, reflecting on the team’s preparation and energy.

Duke’s performance was a complete team effort. Flagg displayed his playmaking ability by finding open teammates after drawing double teams. Knueppel was sharp from the outside and also drove to the basket. Tyrese Proctor, who had been struggling in recent games, scored 17 points. Duke’s defense was tight, with 23 deflections, a season-high according to Scheyer.

“It feels awesome to get a big-time win like this and do it at home in front of the fans,” said Knueppel, who is from Milwaukee and had studied up on the rivalry for his first taste of it.

For North Carolina (13-10, 6-5), it was another tough loss. The final seven minutes of the game were mainly about trying to make the score more respectable. In the first half, UNC had more turnovers (nine) than field goals (eight).

UNC, which started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25, has now lost four of its last five games. Their only win in that stretch came in overtime against Boston College, which entered the weekend with just one ACC victory. With a poor nonconference record, the Tar Heels are running out of opportunities to improve their NCAA resume.

Despite the setback, UNC head coach Hubert Davis remained hopeful.

“Yes we’re discouraged, but we’re going to move forward,” Davis said. “We’re going to get back up, move forward and continue to get better, and try to become the team that I think we all know we can be.”

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Basketball

No. 25 Louisville Aims To Extend Its Win Streak As It Faces A Challenging Wake Forest Team On Tuesday Night In Louisville

Louisville (NCAAB)

Wake Forest faced a tough challenge over the weekend against No. 2 Duke. Now, it faces another tough matchup on Tuesday night as it travels to play No. 25 Louisville in an Atlantic Coast Conference game.

“The games are coming at you in rapid-fire here,” said Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes. “But it’s a great opportunity, right? It’s a great opportunity to get an unbelievable road win. And so that’s how we look at it.”

Louisville (15-5, 8-1) is riding a nine-game winning streak. The Cardinals had the weekend off and last played on Tuesday night, easily defeating SMU 98-73.

“I love playing with this team,” Louisville guard Chucky Hepburn said. “We’re coming a long way. We still have a lot of room to grow.”

Wake Forest (15-5, 7-2) saw its six-game win streak end with a 63-56 home loss to Duke on Saturday.

Four of Louisville’s past six wins have come by double digits, making early season setbacks seem distant.

“One thing that I love about this team is we never gave up,” Hepburn said. “If we lost, it was the next day, we were practicing, and we were just getting to it.”

The Cardinals have been playing well, with impressive teamwork. In last Tuesday’s game, they assisted on all 14 of their first-half baskets.

By the end of the game, Reyne Smith had set a school record with 10 three-pointers.

Hepburn, a senior transfer, set a career high with 16 assists, a new program record, and the most assists in an ACC game in nearly 14 years.

Duke dominates with top-five offensive and defensive efficiency (Duke)

Louisville coach Pat Kelsey called Hepburn’s performance “a magical game.”

Despite the loss to Duke, Forbes believes his team is still strong.

“We got a good basketball team, and we could pretty much play with anybody,” he said. “I’ve never been discouraged with this group of guys because they fight and they play so hard and they’ve learned that no matter how the offense is going, the defense keeps us in the game.”

Wake Forest is getting solid contributions from guard Juke Harris, a freshman who scored 14 points off the bench against Duke.

“He plays without fear, good and bad sometimes,” Forbes said. “But I’d rather have to dial somebody down and dial ’em up. And he’s competitive and fearless.”

However, Wake Forest is struggling with its offense and needs to improve execution.

“We just didn’t execute offensively when we needed to… and that cost us,” Forbes said.

Despite coming back from a 13-point deficit, Wake Forest was unable to break through against Duke’s switch to a zone defense. Forbes emphasized the need to work on better attacking tactics for the next time they face a zone.

“I just don’t think we executed the looks like we needed to do,” Forbes said. “It’s just we weren’t really crisp in what our executions should have been for the look that we should have got.”

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Auburn Falls as Duke Takes Over No. 1 in Updated Power Rankings

Duke dominates with top-five offensive and defensive efficiency (Duke)

The latest college basketball power rankings have seen Duke ascend to the top spot, overtaking Auburn. The Blue Devils have achieved a remarkable 12-game winning streak, leading the nation and boasting a net rating of 36.71.

Their current record of 16-2 represents the best start recorded in KenPom.com’s database since the 2014-15 Kentucky team. Duke is the only squad with both a top-five offense and defense in adjusted efficiency ratings.

Blue Devils secure No. 1 spot as they outpace tough competition (Blue Devils)

Duke’s Dominance and Auburn’s Resilience

Auburn remains an impressive contender in college basketball, currently holding a 17-1 all-in-all record (5-0 SEC) while performing well despite the absence of star player Johni Broome, who was once seen as a frontrunner for the National Player of the Year award.

Duke’s victory over Auburn by six points on December 4 underscores its formidable presence in the sport.

With this latest winning streak, Duke finds itself ranked No. 1 for the first time this season, positioning itself as the likely favorite in all remaining regular-season matchups.

Understanding Power Rankings

Analyzing the current power rankings reveals several aspects to consider, prompting a closer look into the factors influencing these evaluations.

Power Rankings are defined as a ranking of teams that prioritizes recent performance relative to the level of competition faced. This process is inherently unscientific and often boils down to a “vibes” ranking.

Factors such as margin of victory, injuries, performance against top-tier teams, momentum, and other subjective elements all play a role in shaping these assessments.

The rankings serve as a weekly response—or sometimes an overreaction—to the outcomes of the most recent week of games.