Coach Scheyer calls Flagg’s game against Arizona “one of best tournament performances” ever

Cooper Flagg is for real. If you needed any more proof, all you had to do was tune in to Duke’s Sweet 16 win over Arizona on Thursday night. The freshman phenom took over the game and his coach rained praise upon the projected top pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Flagg’s historic night

This is nothing new. We knew Flagg was going to be a generational talent, and like any superstar in the making, he is writing his legacy in the biggest games and on the brightest of stages.

On Thursday in Newark, the 18 year old did something that has only been done once in the NCAA Tournament in last forty years. He became the second player to register 30+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5 + assists and 3+ blocks since the NCAA started keeping stats on blocks in 1986. UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon was the only other player to so back in 1994.

His coach, Jon Scheyer, has rained praise down on Flagg, deeming his Sweet 16 game one of the best he’s ever seen. “That was one of the best tournament performances I’ve ever coached or been a part of,” said the Blue Devils third year coach.

Scheyer was a Dukie himself, and one of the most sought after high school players in the country when he landed in Duke back in 2006. He won a title with the Blue Devils in 2010, and returned to his alma mater as an assistant under Mike Kyzrzewski in 2014.

Next up: Alabama

Coach Scheyer has seen his fair share of incredible performances both as a player and as a coach, but what Flagg did on Thursday night was something that surprised even the most seasoned of Duke legends.

Both Scheyer and Flagg know the job is not done. Their 100-93 win over Arizona is in the rearview and now it’s time to start prepping for their Elite Eight match up with Alabama on Saturday. “He just did what he was supposed to do, and he’ll move on and get ready for Alabama,” Scheyer said. “I think that’s the beauty of it with him. He doesn’t get caught up in all that.”

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