1-seed Duke is gearing up to take on 1-seed Houston in the Final Four this weekend in San Antonio. It’s a matchup of potentially the two most dominant teams in college basketball, but only one will have a chance to compete for a national title next week.
Houston is known for its physicality year in and year out, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. It will be a tall task for the Blue Devils to match the Cougars’ physical nature and be able to slow Kelvin Sampson’s group down.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer spoke with Scott Van Pelt on “Sportscenter with Scott Van Pelt” last night and talked about the preparation for his group to take on Houston. Van Pelt asked Scheyer what concerns him the most about the Cougars, and Scheyer had a lot to say.
“A lot concerns me. I think you start with the fact that they’ve had, you know, the core of their team has been together for multiple years, and so the experience they’ve had together, their connection is incredibly deep. But they’re just a team that doesn’t beat themselves. You have to really beat them, and it starts with, they make everything difficult for you on our offense, their defense is legit.”
Houston is typically known for its defense, but this year’s Cougars squad is likely one of the best offensive squads Sampson’s had at Houston during his time as head coach, as the Cougars rank second nationally in team three-point shooting percentage (39.7). The Cougars have three players shooting over 40% from three-point range.
Fifth-year senior LJ Cryer is averaging 16.7 points per game through the NCAA Tournament so far, and it will be a fun battle between him and Duke’s guards as the Blue Devils will look to take him out of rhythm on offense as much as possible.
The Blue Devils have defended the three ball well so far through the tournament, only allowing one of their four opponents to shoot over 40% from beyond the arc as a team. Duke’s defense as a whole has been incredible through the big dance up to this point, but it will need to be world-class to keep Houston in check while also matching the physical nature of the Cougars when the Blue Devils are on offense themselves.
This contest has the potential to be an instant classic, as neither team has lost since early February. Catch the matchup on CBS at 8:49 pm ET on Saturdays.
Duke Blue Devils fans have had an emotional rollercoaster of a week, seeing the Duke men’s basketball team advance to the Final Four, viewed as the favorite to win the national championship, but also seeing Duke women’s basketball fall in heartbreak fashion to 1-seed South Carolina in the Elite Eight 54-50.
Here’s your weekly scoop of Duke Blue Devils news ahead of Final Four weekend in San Antonio.
Cooper Flagg will not return to Duke
There was lots of speculation over the back half of the college basketball season that freshman phenom Cooper Flagg could potentially return to Duke for a sophomore season, reason being if a certain NBA franchise lands the first overall pick and Flagg could be drafted into a not-so-ideal situation, as Flagg is practically a shoo-in to be selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Many around college basketball were saying Flagg should at least use the NBA Draft lottery to his advantage, as the lottery happens before the deadline to declare for the draft. So, Flagg could theoretically leverage the idea of him returning to Duke if a team he doesn’t like lands the top pick. However, all of that speculation has now been shut down by Duke head coach, Jon Scheyer. While he was on the Dan Patrick Show, Scheyer confirmed that he hadn’t had a conversation with Flagg about a potential return and will not have one in the future.
“No. Although, I can dream about that,” Scheyer said. “But I think that’s all it is in this case. I think it’s a dream, and I think he’s got to take the next dream in his life and be the top pick in the NBA Draft and start his professional career.”
Even though there was little hope to begin with, rightfully so, Duke fans can now put the idea to sleep that Duke’s freshman superstar could potentially return to Durham for the 2025-26 season. It is now confirmed he will be off to the NBA.
Toby Fournier says a Final Four for women’s basketball is “definitely within our reach.”
Duke women’s basketball suffered a crushing 54-50 defeat to 1-seed South Carolina in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Blue Devils led by four points at the start of the fourth quarter, but were limited to just eight points in the final te