The Maine mania at Duke continues to go from strength to strength. Cooper Flagg put up video game numbers as fourth-ranked Duke comfortably beat Notre Dame 86-78. Flagg scored 42 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on his way to breaking the ACC freshman single-game record of 41 points held by Olivier Hanlan. One would think that with the monstrous season that the projected number-one pick for the 2025 NBA draft is having, he would be the outright favorite for the Naismith College Player of The Year, right? Well, maybe hold your horses.

In The Field of 68: After Dark podcast, Rob Dauster predicts Auburn star Johni Broome to win the Naismith College Player of the Year. He said, ”Right now Johni Broome would probably win it, I think if you pulled all the media members who vote, Johni would get 75% of the votes.”

Broome, who returned for his third year at the program in favor of the NBA draft has arguably been one of the best players in the competition if not the best, averaging 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game this season. He has been a very important part of Bruce Pearl’s Auburn setup and will look to win the SEC Championship again.

Dauster, however, does acknowledge the fast-paced growth of Cooper Flagg and admits the race for the National Player of the Year will be a lot closer by the end of next month. Dauster predicted the NPOY race, ”With the way this thing is going, and the level of the ACC, I think that in a month it will be closer to 50-50 just because of the numbers he’s (Flagg) gonna put up.” 

This is a testament to Cooper Flagg’s qualities, who has been averaging 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this season, and the big gap in quality between the two conferences. But only begs us to ask the question of just how these two stellar athletes can make their cases.

What’s next for Cooper Flagg and Broome?

Cooper Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils will be hosting the Miami Hurricanes on the 15th of this month and will look to extend their 6-0 ACC record over the struggling Miami team who have a 0-5 record this season. Flagg will look to impose his game further and cement himself firmly in the race for the National Player of the Year.

Broom, however, is guaranteed to miss the next two games minimum with an ankle sprain. Consequently, he will be forced to sit on the sideline and watch Auburn host Mississippi State as they look to keep the winning run going and extend their unbeaten SEC record. How Bruce Pearl deals with this injury, remains to be seen.

As the season progresses, the battle between these two standout players continues to captivate basketball fans across the nation. Cooper Flagg’s meteoric rise at Duke and Johni Broome’s steady dominance at Auburn showcase the best of college basketball, which is raw talent mixing with seasoned excellence.

Whether it’s Flagg lighting up the ACC or Broome solidifying his legacy in the SEC, this season has delivered a thrilling narrative for basketball enthusiasts. The race for the Naismith College Player of the Year is far from over, and with every game, the stakes only get higher. Sit back and enjoy the show because we’re witnessing greatness in the making!