When Duke Blue Devils faced Kentucky Wildcats last week, an exciting game with strong performances, especially from top prospect Cooper Flagg, was anticipated. However, in a surprising turn, Kentucky, led by Mark Pope, secured an impressive win. Well, this win was no accident; Pope had implemented specific strategies that successfully contained Flagg in the final quarter, securing the upset victory for Kentucky.

A recent video from the final minutes of Kentucky’s dramatic win over Duke has been making waves on social media. The footage offers a glimpse into a crucial moment where head coach Mark Pope’s instructions were key to his team’s success, especially in containing Cooper Flagg, who had already racked up 26 points with just a few minutes left in the game.

In the video, the head coach is seen clearly laying out the strategy to his players. “If I get Cooper on an ISO, we are coming and we are rotating down. Go two hands and take the ball. If Cooper goes to work and spins, we will have a body there to take the ball,” Pope told his team.

Just moments after that, the video captures the pivotal game-winning play—Kentucky’s Otega Oweh strips the ball away from Cooper Flagg, executing the strategy Pope laid out. This steal set the stage for the Wildcats to get free-throw opportunities, ultimately securing the win for Kentucky.

The Duke guard had been dominant, putting up an impressive 26 points, but it was his costly mistakes in the final moments that proved to be the downfall for Jon Scheyer’s Duke squad, marking their first loss of the season.

Cooper Flagg’s learning curve: A Star shines, but late turnovers shift momentum

Cooper Flagg’s showdown against Kentucky was a milestone for the young star—his first game scoring over 20 points and his second double-double in just three college games. But beyond the impressive numbers, there’s a deeper layer to the story. It was a turnover by the 17-year-old that really shifted the momentum. While Flagg had committed two turnovers in each of his previous games without it affecting Duke’s success, this time, the mistake proved costly.

Duke’s guard had a rough night with the ball, recording three turnovers—almost half of Duke’s total of seven. That statistic might seem manageable, but the timing of those mistakes made them particularly damaging. With just two minutes left in a tight game, Duke was clinging to a slim lead. But Kentucky capitalized on the moment. Andrew Carr’s layup, followed by a clutch free throw, flipped the score in Kentucky’s favor, leaving Duke trailing 70-72 and sending the game into its final, tense stretch.

Despite Duke tying the game at 72, Flagg’s second turnover allowed Kentucky to regain the lead. In the final 12 seconds, two turnovers from Flagg gave the Wildcats crucial opportunities to close out the game. While the Wildcats took advantage of free throws in the final 15 seconds—none of which were due to Flagg’s fouls—the criticism against the freshman centers on the fact that the game wouldn’t have reached that pressure-packed moment if not for his crucial turnovers.

While the spotlight may have shifted due to those late turnovers, it’s important not to overlook Cooper Flagg’s standout performance in the game. At just 17 years old, he’s already showcasing incredible talent, but as with any young player, there’s still a lot for him to learn—especially when it comes to handling the defensive strategies, like the one Mark Pope laid out.