DURHAM, NC—In one of the most eagerly awaited college basketball debuts in recent history, Cooper Flagg, the nation’s top recruit for the 2024 class, made his presence felt in his first game for the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils. On Monday night, Bull City Citizen was among the media outlets covering the electric atmosphere at Cameron Indoor Stadium as Duke opened the season with a resounding 96-62 win over Maine.
With sky-high expectations surrounding Flagg, the 6-foot-8 forward lived up to the hype, showcasing his versatility and athleticism. In 30 minutes on the court, he filled the stat sheet with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, leading Duke in both rebounds and steals. His performance was complemented by Kon Knueppel, who scored a game-high 22 points.
Flagg’s playmaking ability was on full display early, as he dished out two quick assists to help Duke establish a lead they never surrendered. His first points of the night came from the free-throw line, where he went a perfect 6-for-6. But it wasn’t long before Flagg delivered his first highlight, an explosive drive into the paint capped by a powerful dunk that ignited the Cameron Crazies.
Defensively, Flagg was a force, disrupting Maine’s passing lanes and converting steals into scoring opportunities. One memorable moment came in the second half when he stole the ball and finished with a breakaway dunk. However, the crowd held its collective breath late in the game when Flagg went down, seemingly in pain. Thankfully, it appeared to be only a cramp, and he walked off to the bench as the fans cheered in relief. With the game well in hand, he sat out the remainder of the contest.
Despite his strong performance, Flagg struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-4 from three-point range. Most of his offensive production came from the paint and the free-throw line, demonstrating his effectiveness in close and his relentless attacking style.
Duke returns to action on Friday against Army, setting the stage for a marquee showdown against Kentucky in Atlanta next Tuesday. As the college basketball world keeps its eyes on Flagg and the Blue Devils, Bull City Citizen will continue to cover every thrilling moment of this promising season.
