The air is almost electric when the Cameron Crazies file into the seats for another Duke home game. Powered by their freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils have been on fire, banging opponents around and taking over the ACC. Still, there are whispers of doubt starting to be heard. Are the Blue Devils truly battle-tested, or are they riding a weakened conference wave toward March Madness?

Flagg’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Duke’s phenom freshman shattered expectations with a record-setting 42-point performance against Notre Dame, while also anchoring his team’s defense and guiding them to an unblemished 7-0 conference record. Duke has been so dominant that winning by an average margin of more than 20 points has become routine. However, this sheer dominance raises an unsettling question: Will they be vulnerable in the trials of March Madness due to a lack of stiff competition?

Randolph Childress, ACC legend, has weighed in with a nuanced take on Duke’s season, and Flagg’s role. He praised the team’s talent and cohesion, but doubted whether they were ready for what lies ahead.

“I think the only thing that concerns you about Duke would be whether they will get tested in the league. The great thing about their schedule, though, is that they do play Illinois next month; we will get a chance to see that game and observe how they respond.” Childress remarked on ‘The Field of 68: After Dark podcast.’ 

Childress also talked about the team’s late game dynamics, including the trust they put into Cooper Flagg in high-pressure situations. “I think this team is loaded; they are as good as any team in college basketball, and they rely on the defensive end of the floor. I think they’ll be fine. The only question mark I can mention is who will have the ball in the late game—Cooper or someone else? Obviously, Cooper has stepped up and proven that he can be that guy. He struggled with some of that early on, but there hasn’t been much struggle late. I don’t know when they’ll be in another close game in the ACC. That’s the only concern I would have for them going into the tournament.”

But even with all that concern, Flagg’s impact on Duke’s year cannot be overstated. He’s been transformative offensively and defensively, helping the Blue Devils become one of the top teams in the country.

Cooper Flagg’s unrivaled impact

Flagg’s offensive stats are staggering. In ACC play, he averaged 18.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game and shot a blistering 55% from beyond the arc. With those numbers, and his versatility and court vision, he’s become invaluable to Duke’s success. But his influence goes way beyond the scoring.

On the other side of the ball, Flagg’s 6’9″ frame and innate shot blocking have been the backbone of a defense that has been second in the country according to KenPom. Duke has proved to be a defensive powerhouse because of his ability to guard multiple positions. Flagg’s leadership has also been equally noteworthy. More importantly, his youth hasn’t stopped him from having a mentorship role, with chemistry developing with teammates like Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. And his relentless work ethic, combined with his team first mentality has set the stage for winning culture.

But come March Madness, it’s on. We’ll get a true indication of Duke’s preparedness with the upcoming games against North Carolina, Clemson and other resurgent ACC teams. Childress’ concerns can be addressed by these contests, as their competitors will be stiffer and prepared this time around.

As the season progresses, one thing is certain: The star power of Cooper Flagg will remain in focus. He’s already changed the identity of Duke and turned them into a title contender. But whether they can rise to the challenges ahead will determine their legacy. For Flagg and the Blue Devils, the stakes couldn’t be higher, as March Madness awaits.