1: Duke entered Saturday evening averaging 83.7 factors per sport and rating first in KenPom’s offensive effectivity ranking. However the Blue Devils had only one (ONE!) subject purpose over the ultimate 10:31 of the sport. It must also be famous that Houston boasts KenPom’s prime defensive rating this season.
3: Houston made simply three of its first 17 subject purpose makes an attempt of the evening. The Cougars completed by making three of their ultimate 4 subject purpose makes an attempt within the ultimate 2:05.
6-of-9: Flagg and freshman teammate Kon Knueppel led the way in which for the Blue Devils. The youngsters had been the one two Duke gamers to attain in double figures and mixed to go 6-of-9 from 3. The remainder of the Duke lineup was simply 1-of-8 from behind the arc. On the opposite sideline, Cryer went 6-of-9 from deep as Houston linked on practically half (10-of-22) of its 3-point makes an attempt.
10: The starters for each groups did a lot of the heavy lifting. There have been solely 10 complete bench factors within the sport. Houston acquired six factors from its non-starters, whereas all 4 of Duke’s bench factors got here from Maliq Brown.
13: Flagg might need missed the potential game-winner, however he was additionally the one Duke participant to make a shot in the last 13 minutes. The Picket Award winner completed with a game-high 27 factors in what was probably his ultimate collegiate sport.
14: With 11:54 left within the sport, Houston trailed 56-42 earlier than staging its comeback. The Cougars then turned the third team since 2022 to rally from a 14-point deficit within the Ultimate 4. Kansas in 2022 and San Diego State in 2023 had been the opposite two.
21: If the loss felt like deja vu for Duke followers, it was 21 years in the past when the Blue Devils misplaced in related vogue within the Ultimate 4. In 2004, Duke was main UConn by seven factors with simply over three minutes to go earlier than shedding an in depth one. That sport, like Saturday evening’s, was additionally held in San Antonio.
33: Cryer was the primary participant in 33 years to have 25 factors and 6 3-pointers in a nationwide semifinal. The final to take action? Bobby Hurley within the 1992 Ultimate 4 with, coincidentally, Duke.
58.9: Houston was down 67-66 with 19.6 seconds left when J’Wan Roberts, a profession 58.9 p.c free throw shooter, went to the road. The senior ahead made each free-throw makes an attempt to provide the Cougars their first lead since they went forward 6-5 with 15:25 left within the first half.
97.1: On the 2:30 mark, Duke’s win probability was 97.1%, its highest all night. The Blue Devils led 64-55 and Houston’s Milos Uzan missed a 3-point shot. Because of offensive rebounding, the Cougars had a pair extra probabilities on the possession earlier than Emanuel Sharp laid it in. They missed only one extra subject purpose the remainder of the way in which.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication day by day!
Get extra from School Basketball Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
