Cooper Flagg wasn’t even born the final time Duke dominated the Atlantic Coast Convention prefer it has this season.
Now a prized freshman for the second-ranked Blue Devils (19-2, 11-0 ACC), the 18-year-old will attempt to assist Duke safe its first 12-0 begin in convention play since 2005-06 when it visits Syracuse on Wednesday night time.
Flagg already was considered the doubtless No. 1 choose within the upcoming NBA draft when he joined the Blue Devils final fall, and the 6-foot-9 phenom has carried out accordingly. He leads the ACC with a mean of 23.3 factors per recreation in convention play and ranks ninth in rebounding (7.3 per recreation) in opposition to league foes.
Total this season, Flagg averages team-high numbers in 5 key classes: factors (20.0), rebounds (8.0), assists (4.2), steals (1.5) and blocked photographs (1.2).
Other than being Duke’s go-to scorer, Flagg is an anchor for a Blue Devils protection that entered Tuesday ranked fifth within the nation in common factors allowed (60.0) and sixth in opponent field-goal share (37.7).
Flagg boosted his steal and block averages Saturday when he tallied three thefts and two rejections in Duke’s 87-70 house win over archrival North Carolina in Durham, N.C.
Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel provided two steals and a block because the Blue Devils pressured 14 turnovers and deflected a number of passes to additional disrupt the Tar Heels’ ball motion.
“I feel it is actually troublesome (to beat us) if we are able to deflect the ball that many occasions,” Knueppel stated. “Our protection is at all times going to spark our offense, and that is what we wish to cling our hats on at that finish of the ground.”
Knueppel averages 13.5 factors and three.8 rebounds per recreation, whereas Tyrese Proctor averages 10.7 factors. Knueppel scored 22 factors to guide Duke on Saturday, and Flagg added 21.
Duke will put the nation’s longest lively profitable streak — 15 video games — in opposition to a Syracuse squad (10-12, 4-7) that snapped a three-game skid with a 75-66 win at Cal on Saturday. Lucas Taylor led the Orange with 19 factors, whereas backcourt mate J.J. Starling added 18 and heart Eddie Lampkin Jr. grabbed 10 rebounds.
Starling ranks ninth within the ACC with 16.7 factors per recreation throughout convention play however has struggled currently. He shot 6 of 18 from the sector in opposition to the Golden Bears after hitting simply 3 of 16 makes an attempt in a 70-61 loss at Stanford final Wednesday.
Starling nonetheless discovered different methods to contribute Saturday, dishing 4 assists with out turning the ball over. He additionally grabbed 5 rebounds to enhance Taylor’s seven, and Syracuse coach Adrian Autry stated he needs to see extra of that aggression on the glass transferring ahead.
“That is the distinction, when our guards rebound,” Autry stated. ” … Our frontcourt has rebounded all 12 months. We have to get our guards rebounding extra.”
Syracuse’s plus-1.5 rebounding margin in opposition to ACC opponents ranks seventh out of 18 groups, however the Orange will face the last word check within the Blue Devils, whose plus-10.6 margin is greater than 5 higher than the next-closest squad (Louisville, plus-5.1).
Duke has defeated Syracuse 9 straight occasions, together with 86-66 within the groups’ lone assembly final season in Durham.
–Discipline Stage Media