The Duke Blue Devils’ championship dreams were shattered in the Alamodome as they fell to Houston 70-67 in the Final Four. The loss was a stunning collapse, with Duke allowing Houston to scratch its way back from multiple deficits in the final minutes of the game.
The Blue Devils, led by phenom Cooper Flagg, had dominated the game for 35 minutes, building a lead and looking poised to cruise to the championship. But a series of mistakes, including a crucial miscommunication on a ball screen, allowed Houston to stay in the game. The Cougars’ relentless pressure and Duke’s inability to respond ultimately proved too much.
As the clock ticked down, the tension mounted. Flagg, who had scored 27 points and was dominating the game, had one chance to seal the win for Duke. He drove to the paint, backed down his defender, and rose up for a short pull-up jumper. The shot clanked off the front rim, sending the Houston fans into a frenzy and leaving the Duke team stunned.
“It’s a shot I’m willing to live with in that scenario,” Flagg said, showing remarkable maturity despite the devastating loss. The aftermath of the game was somber, with Duke players and coaches walking off the court dejectedly. Coach Jon Scheyer offered a poignant reflection on the final play, saying, “For the rest of my life, I’ll have no regrets with No. 2 with the ball 6 feet from the basket.”
The loss marks the end of an incredible season for Duke, with Flagg and his teammates leaving the court with tears in their eyes. “Didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Flagg said, “but still an incredible year.” As the Blue Devils look back on the season, they’ll remember the thrilling moments, the dominant performances, and the heartbreaking collapse. For Flagg, the loss will undoubtedly stick with him, but he’ll surely go on to accomplish amazing things in the NBA.
What could have been…
The what-ifs will linger for Duke fans, wondering what might have been if Flagg’s shot had fallen or if the team had responded better to Houston’s pressure. But for now, the Blue Devils can only look back on an incredible season and wonder what might have been. The Houston Cougars, on the other hand, celebrated a thrilling win, with J’Wan Roberts making crucial plays down the stretch. The Cougars’ confidence and determination paid off, and they’ll move on to the championship game with momentum on their side.
The legacy lives on…
Despite the devastating loss, Flagg’s legacy is already cemented. He’s one of the most dominant players in college basketball, and his talent and work ethic will undoubtedly take him to great heights in the NBA. The Blue Devils will regroup and look to build on their incredible NBA player will surely go on to achieve great things, and this season will be remembered as one of the most incredible in college basketball history.
