Cooper Flagg has left the building: Duke superstar’s college career ends in devastating Final Four collapse..

SAN ANTONIO — Deep in the quiet corridors of the Alamodome, a small room with a single black leather chair becomes Cooper Flagg’s brief sanctuary. For six minutes, he sits there, hidden from reporters and cameras, waiting for the media to clear out of Duke’s locker room. Until the spotlight fades, Flagg waits, accompanied by his roommate Kon Knueppel. The silence offers no solace, but it’s better than facing the sting of questions about a devastating finish.

Moments earlier, Duke suffered a collapse that will be etched in Final Four lore a 70-67 loss to Houston after squandering a late six-point lead. Flagg’s potential game-winner, a fading jumper in the closing seconds, fell just short, adding fuel to a fresh debate about his late-game prowess.

“It’s the shot Coach drew up,” Flagg said afterward. “Got into the paint, felt good about the look. Trusted the work I put in.”

The scene was surreal. Earlier in the day, Flagg had been crowned the Wooden Award winner the best player in college basketball. He lived up to that title for nearly all 40 minutes, finishing with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. He became the first player since 1986 to lead his team in all five major stat categories in a Final Four game. For a fleeting moment, his three-pointer and emphatic block within 46 seconds looked like they would seal his March legacy.

Then it all unraveled. Duke’s defense faltered, allowing Houston’s Emanuel Sharp a clean look at a crucial three. Flagg was called for a questionable over-the-back foul, leading to two clutch free throws by J’Wan Roberts that gave Houston the lead. Tyrese Proctor missed a critical free throw, and Duke — the most efficient half-court offense in the nation managed just one field goal in the final 10 minutes.

The noise around Flagg will now shift. The pundits will question his clutch ability, ignoring the context of a game filled with errors, missed opportunities, and a tenacious Houston team. Even Duke head coach Jon Scheyer took responsibility.

“I feel like I let our guys down,” Scheyer said. “We studied so many late-game scenarios. But in the moment, we came up short.”

Fittingly, it was sixth-year veteran J’Wan Roberts who stood tall against the freshman phenom. Sampson trusted Roberts with the final stop — not the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year — and Roberts rose to the moment.

“I wanted to guard him,” Roberts said. “No help, no stunts. I trusted myself. I was there for it.”

The pain in the Duke locker room was unmistakable. “Of course it hurts,” senior Sion James said. “Cooper’s the best player in the country. We all know it. But it just feels unfinished. We were one game away.”

Just down the hall, Houston’s staff couldn’t stop smiling. Assistant coach Kellen Sampson praised Flagg as a matchup nightmare, admitting it took everything Roberts had to slow him down. “He’s unreal. One of the best we’ve ever seen.”

Flagg’s college career is over, marked by record-setting performances and unmatched poise. He’s the frontrunner to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But as he stepped into a golf cart and disappeared down the hallway seeking peace he likely won’t find, the final chapter of his freshman year felt far too cruel.

His future is bright, but this loss will linger.