Blue Devil Country

Cooper Flagg Issue Stirs Sense of Duke Basketball Urgency

Only one hurdle has popped up for the Duke basketball rookie centerpiece, and Jon Scheyer is rushing to eliminate it.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg / Matt Giles-Duke Blue Devils On SI
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For the second time in as many Duke basketball regular season games this season, freshman forward Cooper Flagg has experienced cramping in the second half.

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The latest instance, as the No. 7-ranked Blue Devils (2-0, 0-0 ACC) were well on their way to notching a 100-58 blowout home win over the Army Black Knights (1-1, 0-0 Patriot League) on Friday night, led to third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer confirming to the media that his staff must quickly figure out how to prevent the phenom's recurring in-game setback.

"We got to help him, you know," Scheyer noted. "We go to help him. I'm not happy about it for him. We got to help him, and we will.

"And right after this, I can promise you I'm gonna be meeting [with the staff]. I don't care if it's all night. We can't have that happen. Bottom line.

"I thought he had a good [game] too. That first half, he was really just controlling the whole game with his rebounding, his passing, his playmaking, his scoring. He was assertive shooting the ball.

"So, [the cramping] can't happen. I'm not happy with it. And we're going to fix that."

Sure, the 17-year-old Flagg, still the projected No. 1 overall 2025 NBA Draft pick, was impressive beyond his years again. He tallied 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks across his 25 minutes on the floor.

That said, the Blue Devils are now set to face a highly anticipated Champions Classic clash against the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN).

"It's all of us," Scheyer added about figuring out a solution to Flagg's cramping. "It's me. It's our coaches. It's our medical team. It's our sports performance. It's all of us. We got to help him because he's doing everything he needs to in preparation.

"It's not like there's something that he's not doing. He prepares his butt off. He drinks. He's eating the right way. He does everything he needs to.

"We got to help him take care of this — now."

ALSO READ: Former Duke Wing Draws Start for Stagnant ACC Squad

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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