College Basketball
Cooper Flagg leads Duke to outshine Arizona 100-93, advancing to the Elite Eight for the second straight year
Cooper Flagg leads Duke to outshine Arizona 100-93, advancing to the Elite Eight for the second straight year
Duke Basketball fans got good news on Thursday night an hour before tipoff, as big man Maliq Brown was announced to be available for the team’s game against Arizona. Brown had not played since the first half of ACC Tournament Quarterfinals, when he re-injured his dislocated shoulder that was initially hurt earlier in the year.
A defensive standout, Brown adds a bunch to the schemes that the Blue Devils run, and will be a big addition to the team’s efforts to slow down Arizona’s offensive attack. While there’s no guarantee that Brown would get playing time in the game, the fact that he was announced as available means a lot for the remaining games in the NCAA Tournament for Duke as they attempt to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2022.
FIRST HALF
Duke started the game with a distinct height advantage over Arizona, with the Wildcats’ tallest player in Tobe Awaka standing 6’8″ to Khaman Maluach’s 7’2″. They leveraged that to an 8-2 points in the paint advantage at the Under-12 media timeout, as Tyrese Proctor’s runner put them up 17-16.
Zona kept the pressure on Duke as they shot 75% from three-point range, but the Blue Devils’ defensive held limited their opponents without a made field goal for nearly three minutes to regain the lead they had early in the night. After Maluach picked up his second foul just over eleven minutes into the game, Patrick Ngongba relieved him but picked up his second foul moments later.
Isaiah Evans hit his first three-pointer of the night, usually a sign of good things to come for the streaky but dangerous sharp-shooter. The scoreless streak for Arizona extended all the way to five minutes, as the Blue Devils extended their lead out to seven points just before the Under-8 media timeout hit.
Ngongba was whistled for his third foul on the last play before the media stoppage, causing Maliq Brown to enter the game for the first time in two weeks. Due to the injury, Brown was sporting a wrap/brace to support the shoulder. He picked up a deflection on the first defensive play of the game, his specialty.
At the Under-4 media timeout, Duke held a narrow 34-32 lead but had just turned the ball over for the third time. Arizona, a 32.4% three-point shooting team on the year, was 6-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first 16 minutes. The Blue Devils came in to the night hitting 37.7% of their attempts from three-point range, and had made 5-of-10 at the same point in the night.
After Arizona tied the score at 36-36 with 2:27 to play, Jon Scheyer called a timeout to reset the final stretch before halftime. The game stayed close down the stretch of the first half, with the Wildcats doing most of their work at the free throw line. With 1:25 to play, Love missed the second of two free throws and Flagg made them pay on a fadeaway jumper to put Duke up by three points. But Love then answered with a three-pointer to tie the score at 42 points apiece.
The freshman All-American led all scorers with 18 points at the break, as Knueppel joined him in double digits with ten. On the other side, Love scored 14 points with all his made shots from three-point range (3-5). He sunk 5-of-6 free throws, making as many from the charity stripe as Duke had attempted.
SECOND HALF
Coming out of halftime, the Blue Devils were riding high on momentum after hitting those back-to-back deep shots. There’s typically a regression to the mean when teams are shooting better than their average, like Arizona was in the first half, something I’m sure Jon Scheyer was preaching to his team during the halftime break.
Duke rattled off an 8-2 run to start the second half, triggering a Tommy Lloyd timeout as their lead grew to double digits. There was a different feel from the team after the midgame break, and they kept the pressure on and carried a 62-47 lead into the Under-16 media timeout. It was their biggest lead of the night, and Flagg led his squad in scoring (20), rebounds (5), and assists (5) with 15 minutes to play.
Maluach and James joined Flagg and Knueppel in double digits early in the second half, with Proctor just behind them at seven. Although the team’s bench had been a big source of scoring in the first two rounds, only Caleb Foster had contributed with a three-pointer over five minutes into the half.
After Maluach picked up his third foul, Patrick Ngongba came right in and changed that stat as he scored a hook shot for the team’s 38th point in the paint. Arizona had just eight at that point, showcasing how much Duke had been at getting to their spots and scoring at will.
The Under-12 timeout came a little late, hitting at the 10:57 mark after Proctor was called for his second foul, with the Blue Devils leading 72-56. Just over nine minutes into the second half, Duke had outscored Arizona 24-14 and blew open what was, until recently, a tie ballgame.
The lead was cut down to twelve points after a pair of Wildcats’ baskets, but Flagg pushed it back to 15 with a three-pointer. Love answered with a three-pointer of his own, but Mason Gillis came right back and hit another to push it back to 15 with around nine minutes to play. It was Gillis’ first shot attempt of the game, and his first points of the night.
Maluach was whistled for his fourth foul on a Caleb Love drive, forcing Ngognba to re-enter the game. A Henri Veesaar dunk tip-in brought Duke’s lead down under double digits, but the refs headed to the monitors to review for a potential hook-and-hold committed under the basket prior to the dunk. Regardless, Arizona had run off seven straight points to regain the momentum at just under eight minutes remaining on the clock.
Knueppel was whistled for his fourth foul on the play, but was rewarded with two free throws and sunk them both. The lead was at nine points with Duke having the ball until Ngongba made a driving dunk in the lane.
With both bigs for Duke playing with four fouls, Scheyer opted to keep Ngongba on the floor as he continued to be effective. The Wildcats’ big man Veesaar, sensing the inability for Duke’s bigs to defend, became more aggressive down the stretch.
Ngongba picked up his fifth foul at the 5:50 mark, bringing Maluach back into the game with just one foul to give. While Scheyer brought in Brown in the first half in a similar situation, he trusted Maluach to not pick up his final whistle down the final minutes of the game.
Love scored his 33rd point of the night on a dunk with 4:45 to play, and Scheyer called a timeout after his team had gone nearly three minutes without a made shot. Inbounding the ball from the sideline, Knueppel and Flagg looked gassed after playing heavy minutes. Flagg found Sion James all alone in the corner for his third three-pointer of the game to push the margin back to ten points, but Arizona’s KJ Lewis made a tough runner to cut it back to double digits.
Flagg was whistled for his third foul after James turned it over on the previous possession, putting the Wildcats on the line for two free throws down by eight points. It was the Blue Devils’ eleventh foul of the half, and 2nd of the game, an insane number for a team that had committed an average of twelve in the previous two games.
Duke’s lead was down to just six points after a Proctor three-pointer caromed off the rim, but Maluach blocked Love’s three-pointer on the other end to setup a pair of free throws from Knueppel. There were 2:10 remaining on the clock when Arizona inbounded the ball, and Carter Bryant sunk a three-pointer to cut the margin back down to five points with the clock under two minutes.
Flagg drew the fifth foul on KJ Lewis with 1:33 to play after Duke broke the press, giving him his 28th and 29th points and a little bit of breathing room as time winded down. Flagg missed the subsequent layup and Maluach missed the tip-in, but Sion James corralled the rebound and Duke passed the ball around the perimeter until Flagg was sent to the line yet again. He made 1-of-2 to put his points total at 30 points.
It was a free throw shooting clinic for Duke down the stretch, with James making a pair as the Wildcats’ answered with a layup down by six points with 20 seconds to play.
Murray State University to Unveil Statue Honoring College Sensation Ja Morant
Murray State University to Unveil Statue Honoring College Sensation Ja Morant
MURRAY, KY — In a move that cements his legacy as one of the greatest players in program history, Murray State University has announced plans to unveil a statue of NBA star and former Racer Ja Morant outside the university’s basketball arena.
The bronze statue, set to be placed at the entrance of the CFSB Center, will pay tribute to Morant’s electrifying collegiate career from 2017 to 2019. During his two seasons at Murray State, Morant captivated college basketball fans with his high-flying dunks, dazzling court vision, and relentless competitiveness. He became a household name in 2019 when he recorded a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament against Marquette — a rare feat that catapulted him into national stardom.
University officials say the statue represents more than just Morant’s on-court heroics.
“Ja brought a new level of energy and excitement to Murray State,” said athletic director Nico Yantko. “He carried himself with humility, inspired a generation of young athletes, and showed the nation what Racer basketball is all about. This statue is a tribute to that legacy and the pride he brought to our community.”
Morant, who was drafted second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA Draft, expressed his gratitude in a statement.
“Murray State believed in me when nobody else did,” Morant said. “I’m honored and thankful for this recognition. Murray will always be home.”
The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for later this year and is expected to draw fans, alumni, and current NBA players who have followed Morant’s meteoric rise. The statue will depict Morant in his signature soaring dunk pose — a symbol of the explosiveness that made him a must-watch talent in college hoops.
For many at Murray State, the monument is a permanent reminder of a golden era in Racer basketball, led by a once-in-a-generation athlete who turned dreams into highlight reels and left a legacy that will stand for decades to come.
5-Star College Basketball Recruit Makes Major Duke Statement
Jordan Smith might only be a junior, but the five-star shooting guard is already drawing blue blood attention—and Duke may be rising to the top.
Smith, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect out of Paul VI Catholic in Fairfax, Virginia, is the No. 6 overall player in the 2026 class and the top-ranked shooting guard, according to 247Sports.
He stars for Team Takeover on the Nike EYBL circuit and has quickly become one of the most sought-after players in the country.
In a recent interview with 247Sports’ Dushawn London, Smith made it clear that Duke is making a strong impression.
“I really like Duke and how they’re changing the program around,” Smith said. “The coaches always treated me like family when I went up to visit them. It was really fun. I saw my teammates, and it was a good vibe with them.”
While the Blue Devils remain a perennial force in college hoops, building genuine relationships on the recruiting trail is what helps them stay ahead under Jon Scheyer.
Smith’s emphasis on feeling like “family” echoes what many past Duke stars have cited as a reason for committing.
Although Smith has yet to lock in any official visits, he’s eyeing several top programs.
“Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, Duke, and Syracuse are some of the schools recruiting me the hardest right now,” he said.
Smith’s recruitment is expected to ramp up throughout the summer as college staffs evaluate talent during the live periods, but with his early praise for Duke and strong Nike EYBL ties, the Blue Devils look to be in a favorable position.
Smith’s decision is far from imminent, but Duke is clearly a program to watch closely in his recruitment.
BREAKING: He’s Back! Maliq Brown Stuns fans with Senior Season
He’s Back with the Blue Devils! Maliq Brown Shocks College Hoops World with Stunning Return to Duke—ACC Rivals Officially on Alert
In a stunning twist few saw coming, Maliq Brown has announced he will return for his senior season—with the Duke Blue Devils. The versatile forward, who entered the transfer portal after a strong junior year at Syracuse, has officially committed to Duke, sending shockwaves through the college basketball landscape and sending a clear message to the ACC: the Blue Devils are loading up.
Brown made his announcement via a sleek video posted to social media, featuring clips of Cameron Indoor Stadium and a simple caption: “Back in blue. Let’s finish this.” Within minutes, the post had gone viral, with Duke fans erupting across platforms and analysts calling it one of the biggest portal additions of the offseason.
After averaging 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, Brown became one of the most sought-after names in the portal—thanks to his elite defensive instincts, physical toughness, and ability to guard multiple positions. Now, with his decision to join Jon Scheyer’s squad, Duke adds a battle-tested, high-IQ veteran presence to its already elite roster.
“I chose Duke because I want to win at the highest level,” Brown said in a follow-up interview. “This is a championship culture. I’m ready to embrace the grind, the pressure, and the brotherhood. I’m all in.”
Head coach Jon Scheyer praised the addition, calling Brown “a game-changer” on both ends of the floor. “Maliq brings toughness, maturity, and leadership. He plays with edge, and he plays to win. He’s exactly what we need to take the next step this season.”
For Duke, already loaded with five-star talent and incoming freshmen, Brown’s arrival fills a key need—a proven, defensive-minded forward who can anchor the interior and bring a veteran mindset to a young, hungry team. His experience and versatility are expected to be invaluable as the Blue Devils gear up for a deep tournament run.
The message is clear: with Maliq Brown in Durham, Duke isn’t just reloading—they’re coming for everything.
The countdown to tip-off begins now. And with Brown back in blue, the rest of the ACC has officially been put on notice.
Miami (OH)’s Reece Potter commits to Kentucky from NCAA Transfer Portal
Reece Potter went two and a half hours north to begin his collegiate career at Miami (OH). Now, after two seasons as an undergraduate there, he will be return to his Old Kentucky Home.
Potter has committed to Kentucky from the NCAA Transfer Portal on Monday per On3’s Joe Tipton. That will bring him back home to the bluegrass as a native of Lexington.
This was a quick commitment for Potter, who entered the portal back at the opening of the window on March 24th, after beginning to hear from Kentucky, namely Cody Fueger, per reports coming out of this weekend. During that recruitment, he heard from other programs like North Carolina, Washington, UConn, and Louisville as well as California, Wisconsin, Dayton, and New Mexico State.
Potter, a 7’1″ center, appeared in 56 games, mostly as a reserve, through two years at Miami (OH). He averaged 6.3 points (45.4% FG, 39.8% 3PT), 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while with the Redhawks. He improved most of those stats as a sophomore with him now having two seasons of eligibility to continue that development at UK.
Potter played his high school basketball at Lexington Catholic, which is just ten or fifteen minutes off campus and from Rupp Arena, where he put up 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. He originally committed to Xavier before a coaching change that led him to Miami (OH) over other offers like Western Kentucky, Indiana State, and Saint Louis.
Kentucky now has what is likely one of their final additions, if not the last piece, for next season’s roster for their second year under Mark Pope. The Wildcats are already returning a core of Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, and Trent Noah while they await the draft decision of Otega Oweh. They’re then bringing in a pair of four-star, in-state freshman in Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno, an international prospect from Croatia in Andrija Jelavic, and the top class in the portal currently per On3 with six additions now with Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State),
Mouhamad Dioubate (Alabama), Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh), Kam Williams (Tulane), and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida).
Pending Oweh’s decision to return to college or go pro, Kentucky is probably nearly, if not already, done with their roster for ’25-’25. That’s with Potter, the hometown transfer, taking a spot in Lexington with his commitment from the portal today
BREAKING: SHOCKING as Kentucky Guard Travis Perry commits to Ole Miss
The BBN has been following closely to see where transfer guard Travis Perry will play his college basketball next season.
After entering his name into the transfer portal during the final hours of the spring window, Kentucky Wildcats fans now know where Perry will play his basketball next season.
According to a report by Joe Tipton of On3, Perry has committed to Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels. He was also being recruited by Maryland and Vanderbilt, among others.
Perry, a 6-foot-1 and 188-pound guard from Eddyville, is the state’s all-time leading scorer in high school basketball. He showcased some of that scoring this season for the Cats as he was thrust into starting roles with the injuries to the roster this season.
Now, Perry will head to Oxford, where Coach Beard finally lands the Lyon County legend. With plenty of open roster spots and playing time available, the fit makes sense for Perry and the Rebels. If he can improve his defense, you have to imagine he could become a staple in Oxford for Ole Miss basketball.
Perry will return to Rupp Arena next season wearing navy and red. I’m sure we can all agree that is going to be too weird to see.
Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. Best of luck to Travis in Oxford!
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