While Cooper Flagg has been dominating in college ball recently, his start was a little shaky. No doubt, the Maine Event immediately adjusted to the collegiate level defensively and provided a lot of upside for Duke, but his scoring was a point of concern for analysts. On top of that, the Blue Devils lost two tough games in November against Kentucky and Kansas. Flagg did good on his part, but he did stumble in the final minutes.
There was no doubt about his greatness, however. NBA comparisons were being thrown around left, right, and center. The next Scottie Pippen, people called him. But Flagg knew that he could shoot better, do better. Although he dominated the league throughout the first two months, averaging 16.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.25 blocks in his first twelve games, he was not satisfied.
Jon Scheyer helped as much as he could, fitting Duke’s offensive play style around Flagg. However, it wasn’t the newly appointed Duke coach who impacted the NPOY candidate’s game the most. A hoopshq.com exclusive interview reveals how Copper Flagg unlocked his offensive potential over the holidays.
During the ten-day holiday in the middle of the season, Flagg set out to put some work in. He got in touch with his longtime trainer Matt MacKenzie, flying him out to Durham to workout. “The main point was staying balanced when he shoots the ball and freezing both hands high on his follow through,” MacKenzie told Hoops HQ.
Flagg wasn’t shooting the ball relatively well. The Duke forward shot a meager 42.1% from the field in his first few dozen games. But physical skills weren’t all that he needed help with. MacKenzie would focus on his mental game, flying down Scheyer and Chris Carrawell.
What MacKenzie did was magical. His work with Cooper Flagg both on the technical and mental sides of the game culminated in a record-breaking 42-point game against Notre Dame. The freshman now averages 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, while shooting 47.9% from the field. “I have a feeling things are about to change,” Flagg had texted MacKenzie. He worked on the basics, and he worked them hard. That was all Flagg needed.
Duke’s confidence in-tact after broken winning streak, Cooper Flagg leading from the front
Jon Scheyer has kept the atmosphere positive for Duke. Even after a heart wrenching loss to Clemson, the Blue Devils have kept their chins up and their morale high. Scheyer, succeeding one of the most legendary coaches of all time, has done a brilliant job in terms of both scouting and coaching.
The Tigers game was the end of a fourteen game win streak for Duke, so while it stung, it wasn’t time to ring the alarm bells. There isn’t a need to panic or reconsider roster options, as Duke seems to be perfectly created this year. The team has length, and it has skill in abundance.
“I believe in this team more than anything and I’m going to look at what I can do to do better,” Scheyer said.
Jan 14, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils players wait to enter the game during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
The head coach will be going over the match footage and see how Clemson outwitted their players. Cooper Flagg was defended not with athleticism or skill, but through a carefully planned mentality. Kentucky coach Mark Pope even predicted what the six-nine forward would do in one of the last plays against the Wildcats.
Even in the recent loss against Clemson, it looked like they found a remedy for Cooper Flagg. He didn’t have a great game, being limited to 18 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist; he recovered quite well at the end and that mattered. “He really made every play just in the last couple minutes to will us,” the coach adds.
It will be interesting to see how Flagg copes with his first conference loss of the season. He is still the front-runner for NPOY, competing with Johni Broome from higher-ranked Auburn. Flagg will have to pick up the slack, and put in great effort if he wants personal or team success this year.
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