Duke coach says it’s time to get Cooper Flagg ‘refreshed and reenergized’ after battling illness

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CLEMSON, S.C. — Cooper Flagg wasn’t at his best Saturday.

Coincidentally, Duke’s preseason All-American wasn’t feeling anywhere near his best either.

Flagg, who battled cramping during a 77-71 loss to Clemson, confirmed after the game that he’s been dealing with an illness, although the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft refused to use that as an excuse for perhaps his worst performance of the season.

Flagg missed nine of his first 11 shots, including several shots close to the rim on drives, and had just four points in the game’s first 34 minutes. He heated up down the stretch and finish with 18 points, including three clutch 3s, but had a key turnover with 14 seconds left when he slipped and fell on a drive to the basket with the Blue Devils down by two.

Flagg finished 6 of 17 from the field.

“I was definitely cramping throughout the end of the game,” Flagg said. “I have been a little under the weather with a cold, or a little virus or whatever. No excuses as you have to be able to play through it. We have to be able to find a way. We were in position to win the game but we have to make those plays.”

Coach Jon Scheyer suggested after the game the Blue Devils might need to lighten the freshman’s load, saying “we put so much on his shoulders and I have to help take some of that off because there is so much we ask of him defensively and offensively.”

And, he added, it’s time to get Flagg healthy.

“We just have to get his body refreshed and reenergized,” Scheyer said. “He didn’t have that same (energy) the last couple of days in practice. We have to get him back.”

Tyrese Proctor stepped in Flagg’s absence, scoring 23 points — one shy of his career high. He knew he had to take a little more of the scoring load with Flagg struggling.

“Coop’s good,” Proctor said. “Obviously he might have been under the weather, but he competed and he fought. He will be the first one to tell you that he’s not going to use that as an excuse,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/duke-coach-says-time-cooper-182206492.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-09 18:22:00

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