Charles Barkley points stark difference between Cooper Flagg’s Duke and Houston after insane nail-biter game

NBA legend Charles Barkley makes his feelings known during the Duke BlueDevils' recent loss to the Houston Cougars in the Final Four.

Charles Barkley points stark difference between Cooper Flagg’s Duke and Houston after insane nail-biter game

Charles Barkley and Cooper Flagg

Following an incredible choke job against the Houston Cougars, the Duke BlueDevils have departed the NCAA tournament. The Cougars advanced to the last Four on Saturday night after going on an 11-1 run in the last 74 seconds of the match, with a 9-0 run in the last 33 seconds. Houston defeated Duke in the Final Four on Saturday night, writing a historic comeback.

Despite having Cooper Flagg at their disposal, the Blue Devils collapsed, regardless of how much praise one wishes to give the Cougars. Notably, former NBA player and current basketball analyst Charles Barkley weighed in on the BlueDevils’ recent loss. Barkley did not hold back against the BlueDevils in his assessment but he also gave the Cougars the credit they deserved.

Even though Duke had more talent, Houston had more will.

After the game, Charles Barkley said

Notably, Barkley wasn’t the only one who spoke on this matter. His co-panelists Ernie Johnson and Clark Kellogg also shared their views. Johnson claimed that he ‘could not believe’ what went down toward the final stretch of the game. In addition, Kellogg stated, “I had already marked this one over… Houston said no.”

Memes referencing the notorious moment from this season of White Lotus, in which an actor wearing a Duke shirt points a gun to his head, were used to cruelly criticize Duke on the Internet just after the game. It’s safe to say that the basketball community found this quite hilarious. All attention now drifts onto the Cougars facing the Florida Gators in the championship game.

Former North Carolina star Theo Pinson mocks the Duke BlueDevils after recent Final Four loss

Known for his game-winning dunk in a 2018 victory over Duke, Theo Pinson, a former basketball player for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels, was a key figure in the UNC-Duke rivalry. Pinson added more salt to the wounds after the BlueDevils were knocked out by the Houston Cougars during the Final Four game on Saturday.

Notably, a UNC reporter Grant Hughes aimed shots at his rival, Duke via social media.

Duke enters year 10 without a championship appearance. #UNC has had 3 title berths in that span. Duke has landed 32 five-stars, the most of any program UNC has landed nine.

Grant Hughes tweeted

Pinson also replied to this post, trolling the Duke BlueDevils in the process. Theo Pinson wrote on X, “Oh damn 😳”

Just like Pinson, many UNC fans are rejoicing over Duke’s recent loss to the Cougars. Mostly because this was one of the seasons where Duke had all the potential and talent to clinch the championship.

Charles Barkley hilariously took shots at Jim Nantz during the Cougars matchup

Charles Barkley was already making fun of Jim Nantz while he was at the Final Four. The seasoned broadcaster stopped broadcasting the NCAA tournament in 2023, but he returned in 2025 as a spectator because his former mater, Houston, was in the Final Four. Barkley went all over his old teammate as soon as he entered the arena.

It ain’t like he got a job. He quit ya’ll. He got plenty of free time on his hands.

Charles Barkley said

It’s not a surprise that Nantz, a Houston alum, was there to watch the Cougars play Duke in the Final Four. The Florida Gators, who wrote a historic comeback to win the game, defeated Barkley’s Auburn Tigers in the Final Four. Not only that, Nantz now has the upper hand over Barkley as Houston defeated Duke in the Final Four. It remains to be seen if the former Houston alumnus roasts Barkley back in the coming days.