The Duke Blue Devils are entering playoff play as the hottest team in college basketball, closing the regular season with the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA after winning their final seven games, all by double digits.
On Monday, it was revealed that freshman sensation Cooper Flagg had been selected both the ACC Player of the Year and the ACC Freshman of the Year.
Duke emphasized Flagg’s accomplishments, stating that he is only the fourth player in ACC history to win both awards as a true freshman, and all four have come from the Blue Devils program.
Flagg joins an elite company of players that includes Jahlil Okafor, Marvin Bagley, and Zion Williamson, all of whom were taken in the top five of the NBA draft after their freshmen seasons at Duke.
“4 for 4.” Duke posted.
Flagg has been instrumental in leading the Blue Devils to the ACC regular season championship and a 28-3 record, the first time Duke has achieved that feat since the 2014 season.
He has dominated throughout the season, leading the team in minutes played, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and field goal %. The Newport, Maine native averages 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals a game, shooting 49.4% from the field, 37.7% from beyond the arc, and 83.0% from the free throw line.
Duke is now waiting for their opponent in the ACC tournament, which started on Tuesday. The Blue Devils will return to action on Thursday at 12 p.m. EST, taking on the winner of Georgia Tech vs. Virginia, which will take place on Wednesday afternoon.
