Auburn has been flirting with the top position all season long, remaining in the top 5 of the AP poll. Finally dethroning Tennessee, whose undefeated season ended in a shock loss to Florida, the Tigers are not stopping anytime soon. What’s more? They did it without Johni Broome, who got injured during the South Carolina game on Saturday. But No. 1 Auburn is putting Duke and Cooper Flagg, who don’t even play in their conference, on high alert.

Flagg has been outperforming expectations all season long and has only improved in ACC play. The first in their conference, the Duke Blue Devils trail Auburn and Iowa State at No. 3 in the AP poll. But boasting one of the best NBA draft prospects in the league, even Duke cannot ignore what Bruce Pearl’s squad is doing.

On The Field of 68: After Dark, Randolph Childress says in awe, “When you watch them play, it just seems like they had the most fun in college basketball, watching them play to compete. Like they enjoy when they get you down, beating you down, keeping you down, I think they’re clearly the number one team in the country.”

In their latest 88-66 win vs. No. 15 Mississippi State, Auburn’s fourth straight SEC win improved their record to 16-1 overall. Five players finished with double digit points, and they weren’t even playing with Johni Broome. But what was really impressive was their defense, which Pearl couldn’t help but credit to their starting five.

Hearing Childress’ high opinion of Aubur, Rob Dauster asked, “Clearly? Better than Duke, better than Cooper Flagg. Interesting.” But he thinks it’s close. Citing last year’s Duke vs. Purdue example, Dauster says, “I find myself sitting here thinking, if we get Auburn and Duke in the Final Four, colliding in the national championship game? Sign me up. Because that’ll be a lot of fun to follow.”

It would be a high-octane clash no doubt, purely thanks to the talent both teams house. For Auburn, not having Broome forced them to perform even better vs. Mississippi State, whereas Duke could not be better with Flagg leading the charge.

Although some analysts and scouts believe Flagg might not win the Rookie of the Year award this season (which could likely go to Dylan Harper), his status as the No. 1 draft pick is nearly confirmed. Now, it looks like Flagg might be in line to sweep another award, drawing even more comparisons to his former Duke senior, Zion Williamson.

Cooper Flagg for Wooden Award Player of the Year?

If it wasn’t already clear, Duke vs. Notre Dame cemented Cooper Flagg’s status as one of the rare few hyped players to live up to that hype. His record-breaking 42 points, combined with seven assists, six rebounds and a steal, the highest for a freshman in the ACC, catapulted him past Broome for the top spot on the Wooden Award list. It was the first time JJ Reddick’s 2006 season when a Duke player had a 40-point plus game. And Reddick was a senior.

Who says Flagg can’t shoot? While shooting might not be his primary ability most days, as he covers the rest of the court in nearly everything else, the freshman now leads Duke in all five major statistical categories. Averaging 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, Flagg has become the perfect example of college improving his game for the better before the pros come calling.

The ACC is already being dominated, so the NCAA tournament better be ready! Cooper Flagg is coming and he’s bringing the Blue Devils with him.