NEWARK — The chants of ‘Let’s Go Duke’ rang out from the partisan crowd as Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and college basketball’s most dominant team booked its place in the Final Four. Knueppel scored 21 points, Most Outstanding Player Flagg added 16 and top-seeded Duke smothered second-seede d Alabama’s record-setting 3-point shooting in a comprehensive 85-65 victory in the East Regional final on Saturday night in front of a rocking Prudential Center clad in blue. Flagg knocked down a 3-pointer on the game’s opening possession and Duke (35-3) never trailed as it coasted into its 18th Final Four. Khaman Maluach, one of the three freshmen starters alongside Flagg and Knueppel, dunked his way to 14 points and Tyrese Proctor had 17 for the Blue Devils, who play the winner of the game between Houston and Tennessee in one two national semifinals next week in San Antonio. “San Antonio sounds great,” said third-year coach Jon Scheyer, who is 89-21 overall since succeeding the legendary Mike Krzyzewski. “The feeling of losing last year at this point, every decision we made, everything we did was to get back here and then have the team have the opportunity to advance to the promised land.” Duke guard Kon Knueppel (7) attempts to save the ball from going out of bounds during the first half against Alabama in an Elite Eight round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Flagg didn’t have his best offensive game — just 6-of-16 from the floor two nights after he went for 30 — but the projected No. 1 pick hauled in nine rebounds and played his usual excellent defense. And what makes Duke so good? It didn’t even need Flagg to be its best player to dispatch an very good Alabama team by 20 points. That’s because Knueppel used his 6-7 frame to work over smaller guards. That’s because Proctor was 7-of-10 from the floor. That’s because Maluach, the 7-foort-2 center from South Sudan, is and NBA-ready rim protector and rim runner. That’s because the Blue Devils took away the 3-point shot after watching the Crimson Tide make an NCAA Tournament record 25 on Thursday night. “We just have such a talented team,” Flagg said. “Each night could be somebody else’s night.” Alabama finished 8-for-32 from beyond the arc. Star guard Mark Sears, who made 10 treys in that 3-point barrage, was held to six points on 2-for-12 “I think it’s a credit to our guys for not getting spooked by the 25 threes, because it can spook you where you’re so spread, but obviously where you still have to contest because they can go, like that,” Scheyer said. Flagg hit a tough leaner with the shot clock ticking down and Grant Nelson all over him for a 67-58 lead after Alabama had clawed within seven. That was the start of a 13-0 run that stretched the lead to 20 and put the game away. Duke, which has the second highest net rating in the KenPom era to only its 1998-99 national runner-up team, won its 15th straight game. “It’s the expectation almost, because of how it’s been here,” Blue Devils guard Sion James said. “But it’s not a guarantee by any means. Just because we go to Duke or play for Duke doesn’t mean we’re going to be in the Final Four every year. It’s a grind. We had to work from the minute we got here to get to this position. But it’s really cool to know that we’re following in the footsteps of some of the Duke greats and have a chance to make Duke history next week.” Labaron Philon led the Crimson Tide (28-9) with 16 points, but they couldn’t replicate the blistering shooting display they put on against BYU in the Sweet 16. Sears, Aden Holloway and Chris Youngblood combined to make three 3s after hitting 21 of the 25 on Thursday. “Duke is as good a team as we’ve see all year,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “We’ve got some really good teams in the SEC and they are at that level.” Actually, Coach, they’re better. “We’re not done yet,” Proctor said. “We want to get a sixth banner.” Duke center Khaman Maluach (9) and Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi (11) battle for a rebound during the first half of an Elite Eight round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) ...read more read less