Duke’s thrilling 82-79 win over Notre Dame on Saturday was largely overshadowed by Cooper Flagg’s incredible stat line, which saw him score 42 points. However, what made the game even more remarkable was how Duke let a seemingly insurmountable lead dwindle to just two points before pulling off an epic comeback.
The turning point came with 2:34 left in the game when Kon Knueppel’s three-pointer tied the score at 69-79. On the ensuing possession, Flagg and Knueppel were set up for another scoring opportunity, but Kebba Nijie’s screen allowed Markus Burton to swish a wide-open three-pointer to retake the lead.
Duke struggled with ball security on subsequent possessions, including a crucial turnover with just 1:46 left. However, it was Notre Dame’s Sion James who ultimately sealed the win with two clutch free throws after being fouled by Julian Roper.
In hindsight, several mistakes contributed to Duke’s narrow escape. These included lane violations, premature shooting attempts, and lackluster ball protection on inbounds plays. Fortunately, most of these errors were committed by freshmen players, which bodes well for the team’s development.
Notre Dame’s coaching staff can take pride in their team’s resilience, despite being outmatched in terms of talent. Their ability to stay focused and execute game-changing plays like Shrewsberry’s jumper with 3:02 left demonstrated a high level of basketball IQ.
While it was fortunate for Duke that these late-game lapses occurred against Notre Dame, the implications could have been dire had they faced a tougher opponent. Nevertheless, this victory serves as a testament to the Blue Devils’ resilience and their ability to overcome adversity when it matters most.
Source: https://www.dukebasketballreport.com/2025/1/13/24342541/duke-notre-dame-kon-knueppel-cooper-flagg-khaman-maluach-markus-burton-tyrese-proctor-sion-james