“For me, it’s no longer a choice on if I want to be aggressive or not. I have to be aggressive at all times and be in attack mode.” This is what Cooper Flagg said after carrying Duke to another victory, this time against the team that beat them in the elite 8-round last season, NC State. Now was that an indication of growing concerns for the Blue Devils?

The Maine native scored 23 of his 28 points in the second half, leading the no. 2 Duke to a 74-64 victory. While the Blue Devils extended their winning streak to 14 games, this one wasn’t as smooth as expected. The Wolfpack were leading by as much as 13 at one point of the first half and had Flagg fairly quiet.

The freshman was left visibly frustrated and angry which head coach Jon Scheyer took note of. But he believes that it only pushed the 5-star recruit to do as well as he did. “Sometimes when you do that, you forget about being tired. He had some all-time plays in Cameron just to will us back. That’s a credit to his spirit and what he did in the second half.”

The HC was impressed with Flagg’s resilience as he helped the Blue Devils get back on their feet and snatch a win that looked impossible at one point. The star guard would put up 10 consecutive points in the second half, which also included a 4-point play. The Blue Devils ended the watch with a 10-point margin (74-64) after noticeably trialing at one point.

Cooper had quite the role to play and it hasn’t been lost on Adam Cole of the 99.9 The Fan podcast. The host weighed in, calling Flagg the best player in the country, but questioning if Duke can make it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

He said, ” Cooper Flagg is the best player in college basketball, he is an incredible competitor and he is box office. You gotta watch him. And he won the game for Duke last night– ‘all right we are not losing this I will take care of it.'” That was the alarm for the Blue Devils right there.

Adam voices his concerns, questioning how long Flagg can keep carrying the team on his shoulders. “But he’s not gonna do that against you know when you get even into the second round of the NCAA tournament and you’re playing against teams that are theoretically in the top 30 in the country, you can’t get away with that. You lose,” he adds.

Well, he might not be all wrong. That was the third consecutive night Flagg was leading the scoreboard, and right after a Saturday game at that. He had played 39 minutes against Wake Forest on the 25th, carrying the team throughout as the HC admits. He knows that’s no easy task, noting, “you don’t get to catch your breathe.” Yet, in the game against NC State, he was passing, blocking, and rebounding– something nobody else in the country can do as per Scheyer.

The freshman’s averaging 24.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in the ACC. Duke has managed to remain unbeaten there and is on a 15-game win streak overall. But if the Blue Devils are aiming for the championship title, they need to do more than rely on the top prospect.

What’s next for Cooper Flagg and his Blue Devils?

The Duke Blue Devils are locked in on their championship goals, ready to make a statement as they take on the struggling North Carolina Tar Heels at the legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium. With ESPN giving them an impressive 89.3% chance to win. Coach Scheyer’s squad is poised to keep their momentum rolling as March Madness approaches!

Cooper Flagg doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. He is currently averaging 19.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and shooting 48.7% from the field and is a favorite to win the Naismith Player of the Year. The star guard could also make history by becoming one of the only few freshmen to win the honor. Do you remember the last freshman to win it? A certain Zion Williamson!

Analysts and reporters continue to question whether Duke can go deep into the NCAA Tournament without more consistent support for Flagg. As March Madness looms, all eyes will be on how the Blue Devils perform in their upcoming games. Stay tuned for more updates!