How do you stop Cooper Flagg? Well, no one in the ACC has figured it out just yet. The six-foot-nine phenom from Maine has been dominating this season, and he shows no sign of stopping. With the Blue Devils being impenetrable in conference play, there seems to be no limit to how much Flagg can affect the game. He goes out there and gives it everything he has on both ends of the court. However, UNC Legends might have found a weakness in his game that their alma mater can exploit on Saturday.

On the podcast To The Baha, UNC legends, Raymond Felton and Theo Pinson highlighted a strategy that Hubert Davis can use to try to neutralize Cooper Flagg’s game. “I still don’t think Cooper and some of the other guys over there are not great shooters. I would put a 1-2-2 on them.” The ex-NBA point guard said, suggesting a zone defense against Duke.

He continued, pointing out the biggest upside of Flagg and his teammates. “Pack the paint a little bit. Because they biggest thing is getting the ball in the paint, and using their athleticism, and then just rebounding and if they get that going, they start feeling good. Then they start hitting shots.” 

Theo Pinson chimed in, pointing out the dependency that Duke has on the six-nine forward. “They run a lot through Cooper. It’s like damn near every play through Cooper.” Which is true. Flagg has the highest amount of touches and leads the Blue Devils in nearly every major statistical category.

However, Felton kept it simple with what UNC should do. “Put him in a zone cause he’s not a great shooter. Can he shoot? Yes. And if he gets hot, it’s gonna be a long night. But my biggest thing. though, I still don’t see him as a bona fide knockdown shooter. Clog the paint up, make things difficult for him.” While their analysis of Flagg’s game is not incorrect, it is interesting to note that his shot from deep isn’t all that bad, standing at about 32%.

UNC has a tall task in front of them, as they take on Duke this Saturday. If they somehow find an answer for the Maine Event, their post-season chances will multiply manifold. Similarly, Duke cannot afford to choke here. However good their run may be, UNC has always been a formidable opponent. They might be running their offense through Flagg, but the surrounding pieces are just as strong.

UNC’s perimeter defense woes, Cooper Flagg not their primary concern

While matching up with Cooper Flagg is an intimidating thought for any team this year, he might not be UNC’s biggest problem. It is somewhat of an open secret that the Tar Heels cannot defend the three-ball. With Kon Kneuppel, Tyrese Procter, and Isaiah Evans on the Duke squad, the North Carolina team might face some issues.

Even though Cooper Flagg can shoot the ball, that’s not his biggest strength. For these three, though? It is the biggest part of their offensive arsenal. The trio all shoot around 40% from deep, with Isaiah Evans scoring a staggering 45% from beyond the arc! Part of Flagg’s success is the fact that Duke’s spacing is elite.

If UNC keeps struggling with perimeter defense, the game between the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils won’t be much of a contest at all. Jon Scheyer was a pupil of Coach K, he knew what he had to surround his star player with so that the team could win.

Raymond Felton and Theo Pinson are correct in their assessment of Flagg, however, they cannot afford to overlook the rest of the squad. Duke will battle it out with UNC in Durham on Saturday, with ESPN giving the Tar Heels only a 10.4% chance of winning. Hubert Davis and his team must figure out a way to overcome the ACC giants. What do you think? Can UNC crack the code to stop Flagg? Will they pull off the upset and defeat Duke? Only time will tell.