Cooper Flagg has performed impressively for the Duke Blue Devils, but he is facing a challenge that has put the coaching staff under scrutiny.
Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, expressed some regret regarding his team’s handling of Flagg after he sat out most of the second half during Saturday’s 100-58 victory over Army due to cramping. Scheyer acknowledged that the coaching staff could have done more to support Flagg’s health.
“Yeah, we’ve got to help him,” Scheyer stated, as reported by Kyle Boone of CBS Sports. “I’m not pleased about this for him. We need to take better care of him — and we will. Following this, I plan to meet with our staff, no matter how long it takes. We can’t allow this to happen, period.
“It’s a group effort. It’s me, our coaches, our medical team, and sports performance. We all need to assist him. He’s doing everything right in his preparations: eating well, staying hydrated, and putting in the effort. It’s on us to ensure he is properly looked after.”
Despite missing time, Flagg contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes, although Duke hoped for a larger opportunity for him. Transitioning from high school to college basketball is significant, even for a talent like Flagg, so these initial difficulties are understandable.
While Flagg performed well at USA Basketball camp, the competitive nature of real games is a different experience. He should adapt well, and Duke’s coaching staff has been alerted to ensure he receives the necessary support.
