Cooper Flagg of Duke was hindered in the first half of Tuesday night’s game against Pittsburgh due to foul trouble. That proved to be the only way the Panthers could keep the great rookie under control. Flagg scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half, including a couple of highlight-reel dunks, to lead the No. 4 Blue Devils to a 76-47 ACC basketball victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke (13-2, 5-0 ACC) continued to dominate other ACC challengers, delivering Pitt (12-3, 3-1 ACC) its first conference setback in a landslide. The achievement occurred three days after the Blue Devils defeated SMU (11-3, 2-1 ACC) 89-62 in Dallas.
Kon Knueppel added 17 points for Duke, as all starters scored in double figures. Tyrese Proctor scored 13 points, Khaman Maluach contributed 11, and Sion James scored 10. Pitt shot a season-low 31%, with high-scoring guards Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe struggling. Lowe scored eight points and Leggett added four as the tandem shot 5 of 27 from the field, averaging 17 points apiece. The Blue Devils, who finished the game on an 18-0 run, shot 50 percent. Duke has hit at least 50% in four consecutive games.
Here are three takeaways from Duke’s win:
Flagg – activated
Flagg plodded through the first half, playing only 13 minutes after earning up his second foul less than eight minutes in. He was penalized for a third foul with 17:43 remaining in the game, but Duke coach Jon Scheyer kept him in. The coach’s patience paid off as Flagg unleashed spectacular dunks for Duke’s next two points, bringing the Cameron Crazies to a fever pitch.
The first sequence occurred soon after Flagg committed his third foul. Pitt attempted an entry pass to Cameron Corhen, but Flagg slipped around him and stole the ball with 17:37 left. Then it was showtime. Flagg dribbled the length of the court before jumping from the second hash mark on the free throw line, cocking the ball behind his head, and dropping a thundering slam on Pitt 7-footer Guillermo Diaz Graham’s head. Flagg even drew a foul and made a free throw. Diaz Graham was the victim again with 16:47 remaining, when Flagg’s crossover dribble allowed him to blast by Diaz Graham for a two-handed slam that put Duke ahead 42-28.
For all of the excitement Flagg brought to Duke, more than any freshman since Zion Williamson in 2018-19, those two above-the-rim plays were the first time Flagg imitated the former Blue Devils all-American in that way.
Where good offense comes to die
Pitt came into the night averaging 84.1 points per game, having shot 50% or better in each of its previous four games. The Panthers had only failed to shoot 40% or better once this season. Pitt’s offensive efficiency, 119.5 points per 100 possessions, was ranked 17th nationally. As has been the case throughout the season, a team’s productivity level dropped when it faced Duke. The Panthers made only 8 of 26 first-half shots (30.8%), falling behind 34-24 at halftime, and Duke held a double-digit advantage the remainder of the game.
Knueppel continues onslaught
After going through what he described as the biggest shooting slump of his life in early December, Knueppel discovered his range right before Christmas and has continued to shoot and score. Tuesday night was his second game in a row with four 3-pointers for the Blue Devils. After making only 4 of 18 3-pointers in a four-game span that began with Duke’s win over Auburn on December 4, Knueppel has made 13 of 30 in his last four games. That includes going 8 for 15 in the past two games.
