Cooper Flagg’s Madness: Freshman Phenom Torches Arizona in Sweet 16 Classic

Newark, N.J.

They said nothing could surprise us about Cooper Flagg anymore. They were wrong. The Duke freshman phenom, already cemented in March Madness lore, delivered a performance so electrifying, so dominant, that even his own coach, Jon Scheyer, was left in awe. Flagg’s 30-point, 6-rebound, 7-assist, 3-block masterpiece didn’t just push Duke past Arizona 100-93—it redefined what a freshman can do under the brightest lights.

Flagg wasn’t just good. He was legendary. The first Blue Devil in history to drop 30-5-5 in an NCAA tournament game since assists became official in 1984, the first to do it with a block tally since 1986. The last player to match his stat line? UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon, way back in 1994. And when he did it, people called it an all-time great moment. So what does that make Flagg’s night?

The game had everything—drama, controversy, and a show-stopping dagger to end the first half. With Duke and Arizona trading blows, locked in a 42-42 battle, Flagg seized the moment. A rebound, a flick of the wrist, and a three-point bomb from deep as the halftime buzzer blared. Just like that, Duke had the edge, and the Wildcats never recovered.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd called Duke “a machine,” but even machines don’t operate with this much precision. The Blue Devils shot a scorching 60% from the field, nearly 60% from three, and 85% from the line. The numbers don’t lie—Duke is peaking at the perfect time.

And then there was Caleb Love. In his final collegiate game, the ex-Tar Heel turned Wildcat played like a man possessed, dropping 35 points with zero turnovers against a No. 1 seed—a feat not seen since Michael Finley in 1994. Love became only the second player in NCAA tournament history to notch a 30-point game for two different teams. But even his heroics weren’t enough.

Now, Duke moves on to face Alabama in the Elite Eight, and the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop Flagg and the Blue Devils? One thing’s for sure—March Madness just found its newest superstar, and his name is Cooper Flagg.