DURHAM, N.C. — Twenty minutes had been only a style.
Or actually, a tease.
Solely a lot will be gleaned from these preseason, meet-the-team, intrasquad occasions, like Duke’s Countdown to Craziness on Friday night time. They’re as a lot in regards to the schtick — temper lighting, air cannons, foolish introductory dances — as any precise basketball. And, clearly, they don’t rely.
However they do have that means.
Particularly within the case of this projected top-five preseason group — with the nation’s high freshman in Cooper Flagg and a bevy of different NBA hopefuls — it is a glimpse. A snapshot of what’s potential. So while you see junior guard Tyrese Proctor on the quick break, with Flagg — the anticipated No. 1 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft — sprinting forward of him, and then you definately see Proctor kick forward an outlet move, and also you see Flagg loading up as he takes off towards the rim …
Effectively, you begin imagining the probabilities. In regards to the high-flying acrobatics about to unfold, sure, but additionally past. Your thoughts skips ahead, to the types of spectacular performs and video games this group could have in retailer if it could possibly ship on even a fraction of the still-growing hype surrounding it.
The second, at the very least, delivered: Flagg effortlessly elevated off the Cameron Indoor courtroom, twisted backward in midair and flushed dwelling a spotlight dunk with a ho-hum angle.
His face appeared to say, extra to return.
“You may’t actually describe it, the sensation while you’re on the market taking part in,” Flagg stated. “That kind of stuff is one thing you may’t actually expertise till it occurs.”
Flagg completed the night time with 13 factors — third-most total, contemplating gamers had been switching groups at halftime — in addition to three rebounds, three assists, and two turnovers. He was … good, if not overly deferential.
“I believed Cooper tonight was being just a little hesitant, and simply getting a really feel for issues,” coach Jon Scheyer stated. “That’s the fantastic thing about Coop: He’s such a group participant, and he has such an ideal really feel for the sport.”
That a lot was evident, even on his first basket. The 6-foot-9 Maine native drove left from exterior the arc, then switched the ball to his proper hand in midair, showcasing the contact and inside ending he’s so recognized for. From the primary row of Duke’s pupil part, via the raucous applause, you can hear one Cameron Crazie observe the event:
These had been Cooper Flagg’s first factors at Duke.
The novelty round Flagg, particularly early on — and particularly if he’s nearly as good as anticipated, anyplace close to the Zion Williamson stratosphere that nobody in school hoops has occupied since — will likely be a factor. His first dunk. First decide six. First 20-point recreation, first double-double. All of it. Will probably be famous, diligently, the persevering with ascent of somebody already deemed “generational” by the lots earlier than his 18th birthday. (That’s Dec. 21, by the best way; Georgia Tech drew the quick stick and hosts the Blue Devils that night time.)
Flagg, in fact, can’t have a look at this season that method. Neither can his teammates, a lot of whom — like fellow freshmen Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel — will possible be following him to the NBA as early as subsequent June. If Duke realized something from its star-studded 2018-19 season with Williamson, it’s how you can deal with the spectacle that follows a phenomenon.
“You’ve simply gotta keep current,” Proctor stated. “Everybody is aware of who Coop is. Everybody is aware of who Khaman is. Everybody is aware of who all these guys are. So I feel from day one, everybody has been on the identical web page. We haven’t essentially needed to sit down and speak about, ‘It’s going to be we over me.’ Everybody form of is aware of that.”
However saying so in entrance of your own home followers, on an evening that’s extra ceremonial than severe, is one factor — and sustaining that after a tricky early-season stretch is one other completely. Within the first month of the season, Duke performs (deep breath) Kentucky within the Champions Basic in Atlanta, at Arizona, versus Kansas in Las Vegas, all earlier than internet hosting Auburn within the ACC-SEC Problem in early December. That’s three of The Athletic’s high 10 preseason groups, one after one other after one other. We’ll have sense by Flagg’s birthday of the type of expertise he’s, what sort of group Duke is — and the way truthful the nationwide title expectations for this squad actually are.
Friday was a style of all that, a 20-minute morsel earlier than the 30-plus video games Duke has coming over the following 5 — perhaps six — months.
It’s nothing value overreacting to.
However it’s, if nothing else, value noting. As a result of Friday was Flagg’s, and Duke’s, starting.
“I favored seeing him in a Duke uniform tonight,” Scheyer stated. “I do know that a lot.”
(Picture: Grant Halverson / Getty Photos)
