Entering the weekend of Final Four, Duke stood as heavy favorites to win it all. And why not? The entire starting lineup was stuffed with future NBA stars and of course, the best freshman of the season– Cooper Flagg. But as the final 2 minutes ticked away, the odds suddenly changed with the Blue Devils giving away a 9-point lead. “I’m heartbroken for our team that did everything for 38 minutes or 39 minutes, and came up short,” Jon mentioned after the 70-67 NCAA semifinals defeat. Yes, they played great for 38-39 minutes, Scheyer had one of the best balances in offense and defense in the remaining four teams. But the game was Duke’s to lose. But can it be that one decision could have changed some things?
Throughout the game, Houston kept Duke on its feet. And the Blue Devils? Well, let’s say Cooper did what he does best. Except for the final shot that could have turned the luck in Duke’s favor, he balled out with 27 points and 7 rebounds. But apart from this, it was just Kon Knueppel’s stat sheet (16 points and 7 rebounds) that could make the blue blood program feel a little better. Now, you can consider this entire starting lineup wiped clean for the next season.
Cooper Flagg—the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and National Player of the Year—is unlikely to return. So are fellow freshmen Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, who are both expected to join him in the pros. Veteran transfers Sion James and Mason Gillis are out of eligibility. Even Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans are weighing whether to stay or go. However, one of the stars, who recently announced his return, was heavily overlooked it seemed in the semifinals clash. And an ESPN analyst agrees.
ESPN Radio’s Tim Donnelly didn’t hold back when he shared one miss that would be on Jon and not his team. “I think Duke may be the reigning national champions if Caleb Foster had played more in the second half of their loss against Houston in the Final Four. He played really well in the first half and brought some kind of angry, defiant energy. In the second half, he wasn’t used much, and I think they needed some of that,” said Donnelly.
