Cooper Flagg Reflects on Painful Mistakes After Duke’s Final Four Loss to Houston
Whether it was stifling defense or a controversial call, the result was the same: Duke fell short against the Houston Cougars. Despite a stellar 27-point performance from freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, it wasn’t enough to send the Blue Devils to the national championship. The projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft had a chance to lead his team in crunch time — but missed opportunities and late-game execution told a different story.
In the postgame interview, Flagg admitted to a key breakdown that proved costly.
“Just communication,” Flagg said. “I think me and Sion [James] messed up a switch… we’ve got to get the ball inbounds. Just do whatever we had to do to find a way. That was a big miscommunication between me and Sion that led to a huge three.”
That critical mistake occurred when Houston capitalized on a defensive stop. Emanuel Sharp knocked down a clutch three-pointer to put the Cougars up 67-64 with 32 seconds left. Duke’s inbounding issues persisted, leading to a missed free throw by Tyrese Proctor. On the ensuing rebound, Flagg was whistled for a foul — a call that sent Houston’s J’Wan Roberts to the line, where he extended their lead.
Yet, Flagg had one more shot to be the hero. With eight seconds remaining, he pulled up for a midrange jumper — but it fell short.
“I mean, that’s the play coach drew up,” Flagg said. “Took it into the paint, thought I got my feet set, rose up… just left it short. It’s a shot I can live with. I trust the work I put in.”
Houston’s Relentless Defense Slows Flagg, Fuels Comeback
Throughout the game, Duke seemed poised to pull away — only to be reeled back in by Kelvin Sampson’s gritty Houston squad. Midway through the first half, the Blue Devils held a 18-9 lead, but the Cougars responded with a 6-0 run. Later, with just over two minutes before halftime, Duke led 31-19. Still, Houston stormed back with a flurry of threes, closing the half down just six, 34-28.
That fight never faded — and in the end, Duke’s dreams of a title were dashed. Despite the heartbreak, Flagg showed both maturity and accountability in defeat, offering a glimpse into the mindset of a future NBA star.
The second half followed a similar script — Duke appeared to take control, building a 14-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining. But Houston responded with a furious 10-0 run, slicing the deficit to just four. That’s when the Cougars turned up the pressure, unleashing a relentless full-court press that completely disrupted the Blue Devils’ rhythm.
Kelvin Sampson’s defensive game plan was executed to perfection. In the final 10 and a half minutes, Duke managed just one field goal as their offense stalled under the weight of Houston’s intensity.
Even Cooper Flagg had to acknowledge the Cougars’ dominance. “We could’ve been sharper executing down the stretch,” he admitted. “But you’ve also got to give them a lot of credit.”
It marked Duke’s first trip to the Final Four since Coach K’s retirement. For Houston, the win opens the door to a shot at their first-ever national championship on Monday night.
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