Flagg’s impact has been nothing short of monumental for Duke this season. Not only has he lived up to the hype as a freshman phenom, but he’s elevated the Blue Devils to a legitimate national title contender. His ability to dominate on both ends of the floor, whether it’s with his shot-blocking, playmaking, or scoring versatility, has made him one of the most talked-about players in college basketball.
Earning consensus First-Team All-American honors from the NABC, AP, Sporting News, and USBWA just adds to what’s shaping up to be a legendary one-and-done season. With Duke as the No. 1 seed in the East, Flagg will have a prime opportunity to cement his legacy in March Madness. Do you think Duke has what it takes to cut down the nets this year?
It’s a fitting recognition for Flagg, who has been the heartbeat of this Duke team all season long. The “officially official” post just shows how proud the program is of him and how much they’re leaning into the hype heading into the tournament.
It feels like Duke is rallying behind Flagg’s stardom heading into March Madness. He’s already etched himself into Duke’s storied basketball history, and now the question is how deep he can take them in the tournament. Are you predicting a Final Four run for them, or do you think the East Region might throw a few surprises their way?
That’s an insane stat line for a freshman, especially leading Duke in every major statistical category. It’s rare to see someone have that kind of two-way impact right out of the gate. Flagg isn’t just filling up the box score—he’s clearly the engine of that team on both ends of the floor.
Those numbers make a pretty compelling case for him to be the front-runner for National Player of the Year, especially when you factor in Duke’s success this season. You can tell why the hype around him has been so massive. Want me to also pull up how Broome’s numbers stack up for comparison?
Yeah, Flagg and Broome seem like the two heavyweights going head-to-head for that award. Flagg’s all-around game is hard to ignore, but Broome has been a dominant force in his own right, especially on the interior for Auburn.
Broome’s putting up big-time numbers too—he’s been one of the best two-way bigs in the country, anchoring Auburn’s defense and carrying a lot of the offensive load. The narrative might come down to team success and individual impact in March Madness.
Do you think Flagg has the edge heading into the tournament, or does Broome have a chance to steal it if Auburn makes a deeper run?
That’s a pretty standard setup for a No. 1 seed. Duke will likely be heavy favorites no matter who wins between American and Mount St. Mary’s, but both of those teams will be coming in with some momentum after the play-in game.
For Duke, it’s all about staying focused and avoiding the classic “trap game” scenario, especially with a young leader like Flagg. Still, given how dominant Duke has been all season, you’d expect them to handle business and advance to the Round of 32 without too much trouble.
Do you think Duke has a clear path to the Sweet 16, or are there any potential matchups you see as tricky in that East region?
Yeah, that lines up with what’s been coming out of Durham. From what I’ve seen, it sounds like Duke is just being cautious with Flagg given how important he is to their title hopes.
An ankle sprain this time of year can be tricky, but if he’s trending toward being ready for the NCAA Tournament opener, that’s a huge boost for them. Flagg’s versatility on both ends is key to Duke making a deep run, especially with how he leads them statistically across the board.
It’ll be interesting to see how much they lean on him early in the tournament, especially if they can ease him back in against a 16-seed. Do you think Duke will give him limited minutes in that first game, or will they just let him go full throttle from the jump?