A bold claim about Cooper Flagg’s impact in Duke’s 84-78 victory over Auburn has sparked debate following a national column by CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter.
Trotter heaped praise on the Maine native, suggesting Flagg’s performance wreaked “destruction” on Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl’s defensive strategy. While Trotter highlighted how Flagg’s offensive abilities responded to Auburn’s formidable defense, many believe his assessment of Flagg’s dominance was exaggerated.
Flagg’s stat line was impressive—22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks—but his shooting efficiency left room for improvement, as he went 7-for-18 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts.
“The freshman phenom was tremendous in No. 9 Duke’s 84-78 win over No. 2 Auburn,” Trotter wrote, emphasizing Duke’s 1.33 points per possession against Auburn’s strong defense. “Flagg’s destruction of every single Auburn defender was the biggest reason why. Pearl tried everybody on Flagg and nothing worked. He scored seven buckets on six different Auburn defenders.”
While Flagg undeniably had a significant impact, critics argue that framing his performance as total domination over Auburn is a stretch. Auburn trailed by as many as 12 points but kept the game competitive until the final moments, narrowing the deficit to just two possessions before falling short.
The narrative of Auburn being “destroyed” by Flagg does little justice to the Tigers’ resilience and ability to overcome adversity throughout the season. Though Flagg’s performance was commendable, the suggestion that Auburn was outmatched entirely overshadows the competitiveness of the game.
The column’s hyperbolic tone has fueled discussions about the balance between highlighting a young star’s potential and maintaining fair assessments of his performances.
