Late-game collapse dooms Duke in Final Four loss to Houston :: WRALSportsFan.com
Sport

Late-game collapse dooms Duke in Final Four loss to Houston :: WRALSportsFan.com

Posted on by Matthew Reynolds

By Mark Bergin, Louis Fernandez and Joseph Ochoa, WRAL reporters

Duke Blue Devils1Duke Blue Devils 67
Houston Cougars2Houston Cougars 70
Final

San Antonio — Duke blew a 14-point lead on Saturday night in a 70-67 loss to Houston in the Final Four.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer spoke with reporters after the season-ending loss along with freshmen players Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

“The very first thing I want to say is how proud I am to coach these two guys next to me and our entire team,” Scheyer said. “I mean, it’s been a special ride that ended in a heartbreaking way.”

Entering Saturday night, Scheyer was 79-0 in his coaching career when leading by 10-plus points at any point of a game.

Houston’s effort marks the fifth-largest comeback in Final Four history.

“It didn’t end the way that we wanted it to, but it was still an incredible year,” Flagg said.

“I don’t think we were sharp in our execution,” Knueppel said of Duke’s play late in the second half.

Houston (35-4) will play Monday night against the Florida Gators (35-4) for the national championship.

Cougars guard L.J. Cryer had a team-high 26 points on Saturday night.

Flagg had a game-high 27 points on 8 of 19 shooting. He also had 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

Flagg missed a turnaround jumper with 8 seconds left with Duke trailing, 68-67. Houston’s Mylik Wilson secured the defensive rebound and the Cougars got the ball to Cryer, who made his two free throws with 3.7 seconds left.

Flagg said it was the look he wanted.

“It’s the play coach drew up,” Flagg said of his miss. “I took it into the paint. I thought I got my feet set, rose up, [I] left it short, obviously, but … I mean, it’s a shot I’m willing to live with in the scenario. [I] put one up on the rim. [I] trust the work that I put in.”

Flagg had a prolific freshman season, winning the Associated Press Player of the Year and the Wooden Award. However, there were times he struggled in late-game situations.

In Duke’s three loses heading into Saturday’s game — Nov. 12 against Kentucky, Nov. 26 against Kansas and Feb. 8 against Clemson — Flagg had a turnover in the final minute of each of those games.

After Cryer’s two made free throws, Duke guard Sion James threw the ball the length of the floor. Duke guard Tyrese Proctor scrambled to gather the ball and throw up a 3-point attempt. The shot went over the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

“We were all-in on bringing banner No. 6 back to Cameron Indoor Stadium, and it hurts that we didn’t get a chance to do that,” James said.

With 20 seconds left, Proctor got fouled and went to the free-throw line with the Blue Devils leading 67-66. He missed the front end of the 1-in-1.

Before getting fouled, Proctor opted to hang onto the ball instead of passing to an open Flagg. In the 2024-25 season, Proctor shot 68.6% from the free-throw line, whereas Flagg made 83.4% of his foul shots.

Houston forward J’Wan Roberts grabbed the defensive rebound off Proctor’s missed free throw with 19 seconds left.

Flagg then fouled Roberts, who made both of his free throws to give Houston a 68-67 lead. It was Houston’s first lead in the game since 6-5 at the 15:25 mark in the first half.

The Cougars got a bit of revenge after the Blue Devils ended their 2024 season in the Sweet 16.

Going into the 2024-25 season, Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said he had his players make 150 free-throw attempts seven days per week.

“I said, we have got to change our mentality at the free-throw line,” Sampson said. “I don’t think J’Wan [Roberts] missed a day from June 2, [2024], to when we left on Wednesday.”

Roberts finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.

With 30 seconds left, Wilson stole James’ inbound pass with Duke leading 67-64. Wilson missed a 3-pointer after his steal, but Houston forward Joseph Tugler caught the rebounded and tip slammed it in to cut Duke’s lead to 67-66.

After the game, James mentioned Tugler’s wingspan.

“They got aggressive, guards and wings, taking away the other passes,” James said. “I mean … they’re just playing physical.

“They weren’t doing anything special. They were just playing really hard. It was hard for us to get open.”

Duke had its biggest lead of the game up 59-45 with 8:17 left in the second half. The Blue Devils also led by 14 points when it was 56-42 with 11:54 left in the second half.

“Houston is a team that doesn’t quit,” Scheyer said. “I mean, they’re never going to stop.”

With 1:14 left in the second half, Tugler got called for a technical foul. Knueppel made a free throw to give Duke a 67-61 lead.

When Duke got the ball back, Houston opted not to foul. Tugler blocked Knueppel’s layup attempt with 47 seconds left. Houston guard Emanuel Sharp got the defensive rebound, and then made a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left to make trim Duke’s lead to 67-64.

Sharp finished the game with 16 points.

Duke led 34-28 at halftime. The Blue Devils were outscored 42-33 in the second half.

“We could talk about not scoring down the stretch, but for me, it’s our defense,” Scheyer said. “We gave up 42 points in the second half.

“That’s what carried us in the first half.”

Flagg, Knueppel, James reflect on 2024-25 Duke season

A reporter asked Flagg and Knueppel how they want people to remember the 2024-25 Duke team.

“The connections and relationships we were able to have all year long, it was phenomenal,” Flagg said. “Like, I wouldn’t have wanted it to be with anybody else.

“So, I hope that, that was able to shine through on the court and people that can remember us and appreciate the way we’re able to play and the effort we gave for one another.”

Knueppel, who was Duke’s second-leading scorer on Saturday night with 16 points on 5 of 9 shooting, had similar sentiments as Flagg’s about Duke’s season.

“I thought we had a phenomenal year,” Knueppel said. “It was a joy to be a part of.

“I would just hope that the fans and everybody appreciates how we gave it our all every night and showed how and appreciate how we played together.”

James spoke with reporters in the locker room.

“I think it was some of the most fun I had playing basketball, and it breaks my heart because I wanted to finish the deal,” James said.

What’s next for Cooper Flagg and Duke after the loss against Houston

Flagg is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25.

The NBA Draft Lottery is set for May 12, which is when the league announces which team gets the first overall pick.

Knueppel and fellow freshman Khaman Maluach are also expected to be first-round picks.

The deadline to enter the NBA Draft is 11:59 p.m. ET, Saturday April 26.

The NBA Draft Combine is May 11-18.

Players can withdraw from the draft and go back to college if they withdraw before the 5 p.m. ET Sunday, June 15 deadline.

Source: wralsportsfan.com