Robbed on the Court: Duke Falls to Houston After Shocking No-Call on Flagg!
In a game that was expected to be a battle of two basketball powerhouses, Duke’s season came to a crushing end at the hands of Houston — but not without controversy. The Blue Devils were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in a game marred by officiating questions, with the most glaring moment being a critical no-call on freshman sensation Cooper Flagg in the final minutes.
With under two minutes left and Duke trailing by just two points, Flagg made a strong drive to the rim. As he rose for a layup, a Houston defender appeared to hit his arm and body mid-air, sending Flagg to the floor. Fans in the arena, broadcasters, and viewers at home expected the whistle to blow — but it never came. The referees let play continue, and Houston quickly turned the missed call into a fast-break three-pointer that pushed the lead to five. Just like that, the momentum shifted for good.
The missed foul was immediately a hot topic across sports media. ESPN analysts, including former Duke player Jay Williams, called it “a brutal oversight in a key moment.” Social media erupted, with thousands of fans and even former players calling out the officiating crew. The term “Flagg” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users sharing clips of the no-call and questioning how such an obvious foul could be missed in a game of this magnitude.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer kept his cool after the game but couldn’t hide his frustration. “I’m not going to make this about the officials,” he said, “but we all saw what happened. That play changed the game.” Flagg, poised as ever despite the loss, simply said, “You want to earn it on the court. It’s tough when the whistle doesn’t come.”
For the Blue Devils, it’s a bitter ending to what had been a promising season, especially with Flagg emerging as one of the most talented freshmen in the country. For fans, it’s another reminder of how officiating can alter the course of a game — and a season.
The NCAA has not released a statement on the officiating. But one thing is clear: this game will be remembered not just for the outcome, but for the controversy that clouded it.
