Cooper Flagg’s college career ends suddenly as Duke blows 14-point lead in Final Four

SAN ANTONIO -- Cooper Flagg and his Duke teammates appeared to be cruising into a meeting with Florida in Monday’s NCAA championship game -- and then the unthinkable happened. Duke blew a 14-point lead with 8:17 remaining and scored just 9 points in the final 10 1/2 minutes and lost to Houston, 70-67, in the national semifinals. Houston closed the game on a 9-0 run in 33 seconds.

After a Duke timeout with 17 seconds left, the 6-foot-9 Flagg had a chance at a go-ahead jumper but missed it short in the paint with 8 seconds on the clock and LJ Cryer (26 points) hit two free throws on the other end to ice the game for the Cougars (35-4), who will meet the Gators in Monday’s title game. Florida (35-4) prevailed over SEC rival Auburn, 79-73, in the first national semifinal. “I hear what people say,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said on CBS.



“Duke this, Duke that. Duke’s great. Jon Scheyer is awesome.

But don’t sleep on Houston.” "I hear what people say. Duke this, Duke that.

Duke's great. Jon Scheyer is awesome. But don't sleep on Houston.

" Kelvin Sampson dropping BARS postgame pic.twitter.com/SH3rbD9neI Flagg finished with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals in what is expected to be his final collegiate game.

And Cooper Flagg’s college career is over after Duke blows a 14-point lead with 8:17 remaining. Unreal. pic.

twitter.com/eCCykLpgJ5 Flagg, 18, has yet to officially announce his plans, but he is expected to declare for the NBA Draft as the presumed No. 1 pick.

The Draft Lottery is May 12 and at that point we will know which team has the right to the No. 1 pick. Earlier Saturday, Carmelo Anthony said the fact that many college players are in their early-to-mid-20s now will only prepare Flagg for life in the NBA.

“I believe so,” he said. “He’s already making the impact. In college, guys are 26, 27.

It’s not like you’re playing against 17-year old. You’re playing against grown men in college. He had an opportunity to play against the USA [Olympic] Team in practice.

You get that experience at 17, 18 years old. “I just hope we, you, give him some grace. Give him time to develop a couple years.

” Dwight Howard, who was also named to the Hall of Fame, called Flagg’s game “awesome.” “I’ve had a few chances to watch him and I think he’s an awesome young player coming into the NBA at a very young age [that] could be very difficult,” Howard said. “I think his time at Duke, the way that the staff has helped him grow as a player and a person, he’s going to be great in the NBA.

I’m looking forward to seeing him thrive.” This is a developing story. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust.

Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @ AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.

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