When the Duke Blue Devils faced off against the Kentucky Wildcats, fans had every reason to expect a thrilling showdown between two powerhouse teams with strong performances on the glass. However, with NBA top prospect Cooper Flagg leading the Blue Devils, Jon Scheyer’s squad was expected to dominate the Wildcats. However, in a twist that defied predictions, Mark Pope’s Kentucky team pulled off an impressive victory in this new chapter for the Wildcats. Much of the spotlight—and criticism—has since fallen on Flagg himself, as doubts around his abilities continue to gain momentum.

Following Duke’s unexpected loss, the game quickly became a hot topic on The Field Of 68: After Dark, where the host and panelists dove into what went wrong for the Blue Devils. When the host asked to pinpoint the main issue plaguing Duke, the discussion shifted to Cooper Flagg’s potential and whether he could fully deliver. The panelist emphasized that Duke’s biggest concern right now, in his view, is “point guard play.”

The panelist went on to clarify his stance, saying, “I’ll say this, people get technical with point guard or not. Having a guard that you feel comfortable putting the ball in his hand to go make a play for you at the end of a game is the only thing that I see that this team lacks right now.” 

While another host on the show seemed to disagree, pointing to Cooper Flagg’s presence as a key asset, the panelist stood firm in his opinion. “It’s not Cooper Flagg,” he iterated, meaning Flagg can’t be relied for the role he explained. 

The Duke #2 racked up 26 points, making him the game’s top scorer (a mark no Kentucky player even reached), grabbed 12 rebounds, and added a couple of assists. Shooting 47.4% from the field, Flagg’s performance looked impressive on paper. Yet, despite these numbers, he’s under fire—and it all comes down to a few last ditch errors that left many questioning his poise under pressure.

What led to Cooper Flagg’s strong performance getting overshadowed in loss to Kentucky?

Flagg’s matchup against Kentucky marked his first time surpassing the 20-point threshold, making it his second double-double in just three college games. But there’s a deeper story here—the turnover the 17-year-old committed during this game. While he logged two turnovers in each of his previous two outings, they hadn’t cost Jon Scheyer’s team a win. This time, however, that turnover made the difference!

Duke’s guard recorded three turnovers—almost half of the team’s total of seven, making him responsible for 43% of Duke’s turnovers in the game. While this stat alone might seem manageable, the timing made it a different story. With just two minutes left on the clock, Duke held a narrow lead. Yet, Wildcats seized the moment, as Andrew Carr’s layup, followed by a free throw, flipped the score and left Duke trailing 70-72.

It was then Flagg’s performance began to fade under pressure. With 1:40 remaining on the clock, he committed his first turnover of the game, setting the stage for a tense final stretch. Although Duke managed to tie the game at 72-72, another turnover from Flagg soon after allowed Kentucky to reclaim the lead. In the final 12 seconds, Flagg committed two more turnovers, both giving the Wildcats a chance to attack.

Although, on both the final 15 second occasions, the Wildcats capitalized on a free throw from a foul that wasn’t committed by Flagg, the criticism against the freshman seems to stem from the fact that the game wouldn’t have reached that tense point if Flagg hadn’t been forced into those crucial turnovers.

Nevertheless, placing all the blame on him might not be entirely fair, especially considering his impressive 26-point performance in just his third college game. Still, some constructive criticism could be beneficial for his development as he grows into his role. It’ll be fascinating to see how he bounces back in his next game against Wofford on November 16, Saturday!