The Illini seek to shock the college basketball world and knock off the Blue Devils at MSG . They'll need to rely on their two biggest stars to do just that.

Flagg is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, the 18-year-old from Newport, Maine, told The Athletic he is open to returning to Duke for another season in the hopes of winning an NCAA championship.

For over a year now, Cooper Flagg has been considered the consensus number one prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg was the No. 1 prospect in the 2025

There were examples of Duke basketball's unselfishness in the Blue Devils' 100-point game against Stanford. Neal Begovich and Cooper Flagg explain.

Feb 17, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) drives to the basket as Virginia Cavaliers forward Elijah Saunders (2) defends in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images On Monday night, Duke beat Virginia by a score of 80-62.

Cooper Flagg could revitalize men's college basketball if he decides for pass on the NBA Draft, Illinois coach Brad Underwood says

Cooper Flagg is regarded as the No. 1 pick for the 2025 NBA draft. However, the freshman star is in the middle of a major career decision: continue his collegiate basketball at Duke or go pro in the NBA.