By Ryan Bisesi, WRAL multiplatform producer

Duke’s battle-tested resume gained another bullet point Thursday night.

The Blue Devils were rarely threatened during ACC play, but are coming up with answers to every challenge thrown their way so far in March. A spirted comeback effort wasn’t enough for Arizona to dismount Duke from its heavyweight status in a 100-93 decision.

Freshman Cooper Flagg gave a herculean effort and Duke stopped nemesis Caleb Love just enough to survive. Flagg had 30 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three blocks in Thursday night’s win.

Duke’s star freshman spoke Friday about what it’s like playing in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s a surreal feeling being here,” Flagg said. “I think I can speak for myself and all these guys. These are the moments that you think about growing up, being in these big-time games, big-time moments together. It’s just a surreal feeling, and I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.”

Thursday’s game didn’t finish until after midnight, but the Blue Devils will have to stay up late again Saturday and face a team coming off a historic performance.

The focus shifts to the East’s top two seeds as Duke (34-3) and Alabama (28-8) play for the right to play in the Final Four. The Tide are feeling just as good about themselves as Duke.

It was a crimson crusade of 3-pointers for Alabama on Thursday night against BYU. They hit 25 made 3s and attempted 51, both records for an NCAA Tournament game, in a 113-88 triumph. Mark Sears, a first-team All-American, hit 10 made 3s and scored 34 points. Sears, Aden Holloway and Chris Youngblood combined for 21 of the team’s made 3-pointers.

The Crimson Tide are known for playing at a fast pace. Alabama has the highest-scoring offense in Division I college basketball at 91.4 points per game.

“We know it’s going to be a war,” said freshman big man Khaman Maluach. “It’s going to be a battle, especially on the glass, so it’s going to be a physical game.”

On Thursday, the Tide crossed 100 points with 6:30 left on a 3 from Sears. It’s the eighth time this season they’ve scored 100. The 51 3-point attempts aren’t as much of an outlier as you’d think. Alabama attempted 55 3s about South Dakota State and 45 against Mississippi State this season.

While Duke went heavy on Flagg 1-on-1 opportunities in driving to the basket, they hit 11-of-19 3s against Arizona. The biggest 3 was Flagg’s pull-up before the halftime buzzer to give Duke a 48-42 halftime lead.

A win would propel Duke to its first Final Four since 2022 and Jon Scheyer’s first since taking over the program. A win Saturday would be congruent with preseason expectations that Duke would get to San Antonio given its star-studded recruiting class.

The Elite Eight is the furthest Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has gotten in the NCAA Tournament during his coaching career. Last year’s Duke team lost to NC State in the Elite Eight.

“Don’t take for granted how hard it is to get to an Elite Eight, first and foremost,” Scheyer said Friday. “So, when you’re in this spot, you have another opportunity to be back, you want to seize the moment.

“Frankly, every decision we’ve made since March 31 of last year was to put ourselves in this same position and have the opportunity to capitalize.”

Duke junior guard Tyrese Proctor explained the difference between playing for a Sweet 16 game compared to an Elite Eight game.

“You’re playing for a championship,” Proctor said. “I mean, it’s going to be a high-level game and I think we’ve done a great job of just taking it one game at a time and not looking too far ahead or in the past.”

Alabama is trying to reach its second-straight Final Four after falling in the national semifinal to UConn last year.

The Blue Devils are 5-0 against Alabama all-time with the last win coming in November 2013 at Madison Square Garden.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:49 p.m. Saturday at the Prudential Center.

33rd anniversary of ‘The Shot’

Friday marks the 33rd anniversary of “The Shot.”

Duke played Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA Tournament’s East regional final.

Duke’s Grant Hill threw a pass three-quarters of the length of the court to Christian Laettner, who faked right, dribbled once, turned and hit a jumper as time expired for the 104–103 win.

Scheyer told a reporter that he’ll never forget watching Laettner’s game-winner.

“I remember the game was recorded, and I remember being in — we had like a little — I don’t even know what to call it, but a little room, just a couple steps, and I had a Little Tykes hoop there,” Scheyer said. “And I remember seeing the shot, and then literally the next day, my — I can’t remember — I think my mom was — I was Christian Laettner. I think my mom was Grant Hill, my dad was the Kentucky defense, and I think I made 100 game winners that day being Christian Laettner.

Source: wralsportsfan.com