Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and former Big 12 player of the year Marcus Morris Sr. react to the Blue Devils’ 85-65 win over the Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Video Transcript
We were ready for an offensive explosion between Duke and Alabama, but Duke’s defense had another idea in mind.
They absolutely throttle, destroy Alabama, 85 to 65, he’s Marcus Moore Senior.
I’m Jason Vince.
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Marcus, this was a defensive clinic put on by Duke.
It, yes, it was, man, can we just take a second?
And just admire how John Shire has the young guys playing, man.
He has them all on the string.
He has freshmen looking like seasoned vets.
Mala protects the rim.
And, and, and, and Alabama had a hard time shooting threes.
They picked them up higher on the floor and anything at the rim, Malaar was there.
They were switching, uh, the size just bothered Alabama so much, man.
But John Shire has done a great job, a tremendous job of, of, of, of having these guys on one accord and having these freshmens uh just bought all the way in like that.
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I mean, and look, you mentioned it, Alabama shot so well in the last game and so poorly from 3 in this game, but frankly, every time they needed a bucket, they just couldn’t manufacture one.
In the meantime, Cooper Flag was out here being Cooper flag, right?
Like there’s just, it’s a reminder as the tournament goes on that just a few weeks ago we were worried about his health.
He was absolutely great in this game.
And he played really well, but it’s just the rest of the guys, kind Kupu just, you know, he just took over this game.
He used his side, he manipulates the ball screen really well.
Man, he has every player on that team playing at a high level, man.
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Shout out to what Jon Shier has done with this Duke team.
Yeah, and you mentioned Khan, and I think this is an important point.
We are so Cooper flag obsessed, rightfully so, because he’s so great, that I think sometimes we’re just sleeping on the fact that Kon like so far in this tournament, you can make an argument that the most valuable player for Duke hasn’t actually been Cooper Flag.
It’s been Concaipple.
He’s been that good.
Man, he really has and, you know, John does a great job of playing him in a pick and roll.
He has really good side, so you know how to hold the guards on his back and make plays as well, 5 assists, 5 rebounds.
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He’s doing it all.
And the best thing, he switched all the ball screens so he’s not a defensive liability and the guys are just, man, they’re just, they’re just playing a super high level, man.
I, I, I would, these guys like to play against NBA teams for some time.
Yeah, well, Duke fans, I know it’s been so long and it’s been such a hard drought for you.
You’re headed back to the Final Four.
Congratulations.
