I did something I almost never do: I stepped out before the game was over.
I should have known better. I’ve lived by the mantra of “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” my whole life. When the Miami Heat were down by five to the San Antonio Spurs with 28 seconds remaining, I continued to watch as my dad lost hope, assuming Gregg Popovich would be hoisting his fifth Larry O’Brien Trophy. LeBron James and Ray Allen had other plans. I didn’t lose hope in 2016 when the Cleveland Cavaliers were down 3-1 in the NBA Finals to the seemingly invincible Golden State Warriors. James and co. proceeded to do the unthinkable and provided us with the most historic Finals comeback ever.
After forward Kon Knueppel sunk a free throw to put the Duke Blue Devils up six points on the Houston Cougars in the national semifinal with 1:14 remaining, I thought it was a wrap. I previously agreed to go to a movie with some friends at 9:15, and the plan was to leave at 8:45. It was 8:35 at the time, and I still had to drive across campus from my buddy’s apartment back to my dorm to get ready to go. Thinking the game was over, I left. Turns out, I’m a fool.
Before the game started, the idea of Houston beating Duke wasn’t inconceivable by any means. Duke had the best offense in the country, according to KenPom, the oft-cited statistical archive created by former meteorologist Ken Pomeroy to track Division I basketball across the country. Houston had the best defense. This Duke team had the highest net rating in KenPom history, which dates back to 2002. Houston’s No. 3 on that list, only behind Duke and Kentucky’s 2015 team.
Through 30 minutes of regulation, Duke looked every bit the unstoppable force they’d been through the first four rounds of the tournament. Forward Cooper Flagg – the 18-year-old phenom and assumed No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft – was unsolvable, even for the best defense in the nation. Flagg filled the stat sheet, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks.
He took advantage when Houston left someone to guard him one-on-one, using his size, touch and savvy post moves around the hoop to get buckets. He went 3-4 from beyond the arc, which included a big corner three to extend Duke’s lead to nine with 2:59 remaining. There were a few instances where a Houston defender shaded over to help with Flagg and before they made it back to their defensive assignment, Flagg found the open man for easy points. Flagg’s defensive prowess led to a few shot blocks – including an emphatic swat on Houston forward Joseph Tugler – but his help defense also scared Houston drivers off on a few occasions. His awareness and court vision are well beyond his years, and the fact that he just turned 18 in December and already looks this polished is scary.
Duke was in control of the game the whole way, but Houston had a few offensive runs that kept the game within reach. The Blue Devils led 31-19 with 2:07 left in the first half, but a 9-3 run that included two three-pointers from L.J. Cryer and one from Milos Uzan to close the half left them within striking distance, only down six. But every time Houston seemed to be clawing back in the second half, Duke responded to keep Houston at bay. That is, until it mattered most.
Up 59-45 after a made free throw by guard Tyrese Proctor, it felt like Duke would cruise their way to the national title. But Houston did something that seemed impossible; they held Duke to only one field goal in the final ten minutes of the game, the aforementioned Flagg three-pointer.
As I left my friend’s apartment (reminder: Duke was up 67-61 with 1:14 left), I tracked the ESPN play-by-play to make sure nothing ludicrous happened. “Kon Knueppel missed layup. Joseph Tugler block.” Forty-seven seconds remaining. OK, nothing too crazy. “Emanuel Sharp made three point jumper. Assisted by Milos Uzan.” 67-64, 0:33 to go. Crap, things just got really interesting. It was at this point that I made it back to my room and threw the game on.
Proceeding the three, Houston called a timeout. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer had time to draw up his best inbound play, but guard Sion James threw up a prayer toward Flagg, which was deflected and stolen by Houston, leading to a putback dunk by Tugler off a three-point attempt from guard Mylik Wilson to get within one.
This time, James inbounded the ball to Knueppel, who quickly found Proctor. Proctor was a 68% free throw shooter throughout the season. Flagg shot 84% from the charity stripe. Instead of passing it to Flagg, who was wide open, Proctor continued to dribble and take the foul himself. Shooting one-and-one, Proctor missed the free throw and Flagg was called for a foul going up for the rebound (a bogus call, in my opinion).
Houston forward J’Wan Roberts made both free throws to go up one. Flagg missed a difficult fadeaway over Roberts, Houston secured the rebound and L.J. Cryer nailed both free throws, his 25th and 26th points of the night. James threw the inbounds pass like a football down court, where it was deflected by a Houston defender to Knueppel. Knueppel’s pass to Proctor was tipped; when Proctor got ahold of it, he turned around and threw up a last second heave that sailed over the hoop. Ballgame.
I doubt the players on this Duke team have slept much since Saturday night. How could they? In one moment, the team looks poised to make the national title game, with a chance for Flagg to seal one of the best one-and-done seasons in college basketball history with a national championship, comparable to Carmelo Anthony’s run with Syracuse in ‘03, or Anthony Davis’ 2012 Kentucky campaign. Instead, they’ll forever be a what-if team, known for a historic choke job.
If I had to predict who this is going to haunt the most, it’s Scheyer. I’ve heard it said before that “you never want to be the guy to follow the guy,” meaning it’s tough to take a big job following one of the best to ever do it. Well, Scheyer is the guy following the guy, filling the size 30 shoes Coach Mike Krzyzewski left behind after 42 years and five national championships.
It’s still early for Scheyer, as we’re only three years in and he’s got a more-than-impressive record of 89-22 overall. But this was his chance to make his college basketball presence unavoidable, leading a national title run with a blue blood program in only his third season of his first head coaching job. Alas, I presume he was at home in Durham as Florida cut down the nets to win their third national championship.
There were a few questionable moves in the last minute and a half. One was having James inbound the ball. He probably didn’t show it in the huddle, but James was clearly rattled and panicked, which led to the turnover. Also, James shot 81% from the free throw line, making him a viable option to send to the line if he were to be fouled. I probably would have opted for Proctor to inbound, but as one who didn’t watch much Duke basketball during the regular season, I can only speculate. Maybe James was always the inbounder they turned to.
In a similar light, I didn’t understand the move to throw it down court with 3.7 seconds remaining. It’d be one thing if there was a second left. But nearly four seconds on the clock is enough time to inbound the ball, dribble it down court a bit, and pull up for a deep three. Look no further than Bulls guard Josh Giddey’s recent buzzer beater to beat the Lakers. With 3.3 seconds on the clock, Giddey had enough time to inbound the ball, get the ball passed back to him and pull up at halfcourt to sink the winning three. Heaving it down court is risky, as evident by what happened. Defenders can easily get their hands on a lob like that; passing it in closer to the inbounder mitigates that threat.
The other criticism I have is what was drawn up for Flagg (or what wasn’t drawn up) when they were down by one. James inbounded it to Knueppel. James proceeded to put a weak screen on Roberts, Flagg’s defender, which Roberts easily maneuvered through. I assume it was just to make the pass from Knueppel to Flagg easier. Flagg was left to play iso-ball as everyone else watched. Houston packed the paint to ensure Flagg didn’t get to the rim, leaving him with no choice but to elevate for a tough fadeaway over Roberts that he left short.
I agree with the decision to put the ball in Flagg’s hands, 100%. If you’re going to lose, lose at the hands of your best player. Leave no regrets. But I would’ve loved to see a designed play to generate a better look. Passing it to an 18-year-old and essentially saying “Save us, kid,” is a bit questionable, despite how otherworldly Flagg is.
I feel for Duke. This is the most likeable team they’ve had in years, with a generational talent leading the way. For the guys who most likely won’t make it in the NBA, this was bound to be their crowning moment. Even for the guys like Flagg, Knueppel and center Khaman Maluach, who are projected to be lottery picks and most likely will make it in the NBA, this may have been their crowning moment, had they proceeded to beat Florida to win the natty.
In the grand scheme of things, in the overall scope of basketball and the media, I don’t think this will be talked about at great length if Flagg pans out in the NBA. But it is a stain on his resume. He jumped on a shot fake by Emmanuel Sharp that allowed Sharp a wide open look, which ultimately cut the lead to three. He didn’t see Tugler crashing from the corner and probably could have prevented the putback dunk that cut it to one. By no means do I view this game result as Flagg’s fault – he was unbelievable almost the entire game – but I imagine he’ll be thinking about this game for the rest of his life.
Ryen Russillo, an American sports podcast host for “The Ringer,” who previously worked for ESPN, put it well in his recent appearance on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” with Bill Simmons.
“I’m looking at it as, he’s going to be at a gas station in Maine when he’s 60, and some guy’s going to come up to him and say, ‘I can’t believe you lost that game,’ as if he hasn’t heard it his entire life.”
Makenna Richardson