Final Four 2025: Cooper Flagg's dubious call during Duke's greatest collapse vs Houston
Duke has at least one reason for its greatest collapse against Houston on Saturday, but it is impossible to defend a team that only managed one field goal in the last ten minutes of a Final Four match.
With 20 seconds remaining, the game depended on a single play. Houston had reduced the 14-point lead to one by then, but Duke possessed the ball and Tyrese Proctor, a junior, was at the line. The Cougars would need to make a 3-pointer to force overtime after two free throws were made.
It became worse after Proctor missed the first part of the one-and-one. Houston was in the bonus, so when Blue Devils standout Cooper Flagg was called for a foul on the rebound, J'Wan Roberts was sent to the line right away. For the first time since the first half's 14:42 mark, Roberts made both to put his team ahead.
On closer inspection, though, it's... difficult to determine where Flagg truly committed the infraction. Flagg did not appear to make any further contact while reaching for the ball, and Roberts did not put up a hand for the rebound since he was so intent on boxing him out.
The call did not sit well with the CBS broadcasters.
To the referees' credit, it is typically an automatic whistle when a player reaches over the player in front of him on a rebound. This was only one instance where that reflex had far-reaching effects.
With three seconds remaining, L.J. Cryer made both free throws to complete a victory that Duke detractors will remember for years to come. Houston then got another stop on a missed jumper by Flagg with eight seconds remaining.
Flagg's stellar collegiate career comes to a rough end due to the foul and missed shot. The freshman is the clear favorite to be selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Had he not been reclassified, he would still be playing in high school today. He won multiple major national player of the year accolades.
