Duke’s coronation was all however written late within the second half in opposition to Houston within the 2025 males’s Ultimate 4. The Blue Devils led by 14 factors with simply over eight minutes left, placing this system on the doorstep of the nationwide championship sport. Duke’s expertise benefit was overwhelming: Cooper Flagg was residing as much as the generational hype with an excellent efficiency, Kon Knueppel knocked down exterior photographs to point out why he’s a lottery choose, and Khaman Maluach towered over everybody on the court docket to point out why he’s one, too. Duke’s newest freshman tremendous crew was too good to fail.
Simply as the primary narratives for a possible Duke vs. Florida nationwide championship sport have been beginning to kind, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars went into overdrive. Houston was no slouch itself, a legit No. 1 seed and homeowners of the nation’s longest energetic successful streak. The Cougars relied on their protection as they’ve achieved so many occasions prior to now, and someway delivered a comeback for the ages to finish Duke’s season and push them into the nationwide title sport.
Houston shocked Duke, 70-67, in one of many wildest Ultimate 4 endings in historical past. The Cougars held Duke to at least one subject aim during the last 10:30 of regulation. A Houston crew that doesn’t have any projected NBA draft picks simply stole a nationwide championship look from a Duke roster stuffed with them.
This was Sampson’s masterclass, the end result of a legendary profession enjoying out on the most important stage within the sport. Sampson and the Cougars stole this sport with toughness, self-discipline, IQ, and an unbreakable resolve to proceed executing even when the sport appeared misplaced. On Monday evening, Houston will face Florida in an try and win its first nationwide championship in program historical past.
Sampson and his crew deserve all of the credit score, however make no mistake: this was a collapse by Duke, and one which gained’t be forgotten any time quickly. Jon Scheyer had achieved such an incredible job main a loaded Blue Devils roster up to now, however he’ll remorse letting this chance slip by his palms. Sampson was simply higher.
Right here’s how Houston stole the win from Duke, and compelled the Blue Devils in a choke job to recollect.
Houston’s protection was unimaginable within the final 10 minutes
Duke was on seven minute scoring drought late within the second half when Flagg drilled a three-pointer that put his crew up 9 factors with 3:03 left. It was the primary subject aim Houston surrendered since a Flagg bucket on the 10:31 mark of the second half, and it was the final subject aim Duke would get for the evening.
Houston trailed by 5 with 1:14 left when large man Joseph Tugler was referred to as for a technical foul for by chance touching the ball as Duke was inbounding it. Knueppel knocked down the free throw, and Duke received the ball. Houston pressured a cease, and Emanuel Sharp nailed a three-pointer on the opposite finish. Instantly, it was a one possession sport.
Houston then put a full court docket press on Duke because it inbounded the ball beneath its personal basket. Duke couldn’t get it in cleanly even after a timeout. Houston stole the ball, missed a three-pointer, however Tugler was there to hammer residence a tip dunk. Duke’s lead with down to at least one.
Cooper Flagg was referred to as for a controversial foul
Tyrese Proctor went to the foul line for Duke for a one-and-one along with his crew up one. Proctor missed the primary free throw, and Flagg was referred to as for an over-the-back foul on the rebound. Ought to this have been a foul?
Houston despatched J’Wan Roberts, its sixth-year large man and heart-and-soul, to the foul line. Regardless of being a 62 p.c free throw shooter, Roberts knocked down each to place Houston in entrance.
Flagg had another probability to place Duke on prime, however he got here up brief on a shot with Roberts defending.
Houston had no enterprise successful this sport
Houston is a implausible crew, however Duke’s expertise benefit was evident from the second the sport tipped off. Duke was in management for many of the evening. Houston cranked up the defensive depth, made its free throws, and received sufficient breaks to someway pull off the win.
The Cougars had a 9-0 run within the ultimate 33 seconds.
Duke’s guards allow them to down. Sion James and Tyrese Proctor would really like the final 10 minutes of that sport again. Flagg additionally had so many photographs that simply didn’t fall within the second half. How did Maluach end the sport with out a rebound as a 7’2 lottery choose going in opposition to Houston’s no-name entrance line of 6’8 guys?
It is a historic comeback for Houston in each method.
Houston was down 14 with 8:17 left within the second half.
That is the most important second half comeback within the Ultimate 4 since Loyola Chicago got here again from down 15 in 1963. pic.twitter.com/94lhxQ5eia
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) April 6, 2025
Scheyer and Duke will likely be haunted by letting this one slip away. They have been solely getting one probability with Flagg, and he someway exceeded the hype all through this season and this match run. It felt just like the Blue Devils have been the very best crew within the subject, however they melted down when it mattered. This hurts each bit as a lot because the yr Duke misplaced within the Elite Eight with Zion Williamson to Michigan State.
Kelvin Sampson did that. It’s nonetheless arduous to consider Houston goes to the nationwide championship sport.
