Cooper Flagg Reveals His Biggest Duke Regret — ‘I’ll Never Watch That Game Again’
In a candid and emotional moment, Duke’s freshman phenom Cooper Flagg opened up about the heartbreak of the Blue Devils’ narrow 67-70 loss to Houston in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
For Flagg, the game wasn’t just the end of a title dream — it was a painful memory that he says he never plans to relive.
“That one’s going to hurt for a long time,” Flagg admitted. “I’ll never watch that game again. I can’t. It’s still too fresh.”
The highly anticipated matchup against Houston was one of the most talked-about games of March Madness. Flagg, who had carried Duke on his back through the tournament, finished the night with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and a block that lit up social media. But in the final minutes, a few missed opportunities and Houston’s relentless defense sealed Duke’s fate.
“I keep replaying the last two minutes in my head,” Flagg said. “There were things I could’ve done better. Things we all could’ve done better. That’s the toughest part.”
For a player who entered college with sky-high expectations, Flagg’s humility and accountability have only earned him more respect. Despite his standout performance and maturity under pressure, the loss clearly weighs heavily on him.
“I’ve never been in a moment like that before. You dream of playing in the Final Four your whole life, and then it slips away by three points. It’s hard to accept.”
Flagg praised his teammates and Coach Jon Scheyer for building a bond that went beyond wins and losses. Still, it’s clear that this loss left a mark.
“This team gave everything,” he said. “That’s what hurts the most — knowing how hard we fought. But we’ll grow from it.”
While Flagg hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll return to Duke next season or declare for the NBA Draft, his passion and leadership have already made him a Duke legend.
For now, though, Cooper Flagg is focused on moving forward — not looking back.
“I’ll learn from it, but I won’t watch it. Some things are better left in the past.”
