Cooper Flagg’s Duke might be the best team in the country after Auburn star Johni Broome’s injury, hoops analyst explains
Johni Broome's lower-ankle injury might cost Auburn the title of the best team in the country and may soon hand it over to the Cooper Flagg-led duke-blue-devils" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Duke Blue Devils, according to a college basketball analyst.
On the latest episode of the "Field of 68: After Dark" podcast, host Rob Dauster explained that he was already considering placing Duke as the best college basketball team in the nation even before Broome sustained his injury against South Carolina on Saturday.
Dauster believes that the combination of Cooper Flagg, Maliq Brown, Kon Kneuppel, Sion James and Tyrese Proctor forms the best offensive unit in the nation, thanks to their size and ability to guard all positions effectively.
"With him (Maliq Brown) healthy, they look like the best offensive team in the sport," Dauster said (4:10).
"When they take out their seven-foot rim protector Khaman Maluach and then they go with Maliq Brown at the five with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel (in the forward position) and Tyrese Proctor and Sion James (as guards), all of a sudden you got four or five dudes that are all between 6'6" and 6'9" and can guard point guards and five men effectively," he added (4:13).
On Saturday, Cooper Flagg tallied a career-high 42 points alongside six rebounds, seven assists and one steal to lead the No. 4-ranked Duke past Notre Dame 86-78. While the Blue Devils celebrated the big win over the Fighting Irish, Auburn had to pray Johni Broome's ankle sprain wasn't too bad.
Broome's MRI results ruled out the need for surgery but he will miss at least two games. However, no timeline has been provided for how long the 6-foot-10 versatile star will be sidelined.
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In the same podcast, Sports Illustrated writer Kevin Sweeney echoed Rob Dauster's statement about Duke, describing them as dominant and complete in this period. He expects the Blue Devils to sustain their excellent form during conference play.
Sweeney also pointed out that Cooper Flagg has taken his game to another level and he's getting comfortable with collegiate-level competition. He also mentioned that Flagg is the KenPom MVP in four consecutive games that the Blue Devils won.
"It's absolutely insane what he's doing and he's getting better as the season goes on. he is absolutely taking over college basketball right now and it's exciting to watch," Sweeney said (5:13).
However, he warned the Blue Devils' easier conference schedule could work against them in the latter part of the season. Sweeney then compared the ACC schedule to the loaded SEC game lineup, where teams like Tennessee and Auburn will be battle-ready by the time March Madness arrives.
Nevertheless, Sweeney expects Duke to find solutions to the lack of competition they're currently facing in the ACC.
Will Duke sweep through ACC regular-season play with a star-studded freshman lineup led by Cooper Flagg? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.