Cooper Flagg's cramps lead to pressure on Duke support staff from HC Jon Scheyer: “I’m not happy about it”
Flagg's cramps, Duke's struggles, and Scheyer's frustration
Duke Men's Basketball has had a rough start to the season, losing four of their first eight games. One of the most frustrating aspects of these losses has been the team's inability to close out games, especially at home.
In their most recent loss, an 84-81 defeat to NC State, Duke led by 10 points with just over five minutes remaining. However, the Blue Devils collapsed down the stretch, allowing the Wolfpack to score the game's final 11 points and steal a victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
After the game, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer expressed his frustration with his team's performance, saying, "I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy with the way we're playing. We need to be playing better, we need to be playing together more."
The heat is on Scheyer, who is in his first season as Duke's head coach. The Blue Devils have been ranked in the top 10 all season, but they have yet to live up to expectations.
Scheyer's frustration was evident after the NC State game. He said, "We're not playing hard enough, we're not playing together enough, and we're not making shots. We're not doing the things that we need to do to win games."
Scheyer's frustration is understandable. Duke has a talented roster, but they have not been able to put it all together.
The Blue Devils will need to improve their play if they want to make a run in the ACC and the NCAA Tournament. They have a lot of potential, but they need to start playing like a team.
Flagg's cramps
One of the most concerning aspects of Duke's loss to NC State was the performance of freshman forward Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, who is expected to be a key player for Duke this season, was limited to just 12 minutes due to cramps.
After the game, Scheyer said that Flagg's cramps were "a concern." He said, "We need him on the floor. He's a big part of what we do. We need him to be able to play more minutes."
Flagg's cramps are a concern for Duke, but they are also a concern for Flagg himself.
Cramping is a common problem for athletes, but it can be especially debilitating for basketball players.
When a basketball player cramps up, it can make it difficult to move, shoot, and jump. This can have a major impact on a player's performance.
Flagg is a talented player, but he will need to find a way to overcome his cramping issues if he wants to reach his full potential.