Flagg Vs Broome: The Fight For College Basketball’s National Player Of The Year

The race for National Player of the Year in college basketball has been a rollercoaster. Early in the season, it looked like Auburn’s Johni Broome had it locked up. He was leading the best team in the country, putting up incredible numbers, and proving to be an unstoppable force. Then, one night in January changed everything, turning Flagg vs Broome into one of the most intense Player of the Year battles in recent history.

Broome rolled his ankle in a game against South Carolina. At the same time, Duke’s freshman sensation Cooper Flagg had a career-defining performance, dropping 42 points against Notre Dame. Suddenly, what seemed like an easy decision became a heated debate. And as we head into the final stretch of the season, the question remains: Who deserves the title of the best player in college basketball?

Cooper Flagg: The Freshman Who Took Over the Sport

From the moment he stepped onto the court, Cooper Flagg was a name to remember. He came into college as the No. 1 recruit and the projected top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but people wondered if he could live up to the hype. Spoiler alert—he did.

Flagg’s first major statement came early in the season when he put up 26 points and 11 rebounds against Kentucky. A week later, he followed it up with another dominant performance at Arizona. But his true breakout moment came in January, when he erupted for 42 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in a win over Notre Dame. It was one of the greatest single-game performances by a freshman in college basketball history.

His consistency throughout the season has been remarkable. He’s second in the ACC in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game, and has been a key playmaker for Duke, adding 7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest. His shooting has also been a revelation—after a slow start from three-point range, he has shot nearly 50% from deep over the last two months.

But what makes Flagg truly special is his defense. He’s everywhere on the court, blocking shots, stealing passes, and disrupting offenses. Advanced metrics back up what the eye test already tells us: Flagg has been one of the best two-way players in the country. His Player of the Year rating on KenPom is the highest of any player since 2012-13. Simply put, he’s having a historic season.

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Source: Flagg vs. Broome: Debating the national player of the year race

Johni Broome: The Heart and Soul of the Nation’s Best Team

If the award were just about leading the best team, Broome would have it in the bag. Auburn has spent two months as the No. 1 team in the country, and Broome has been their most important player. He’s averaging 18 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game, proving he can do it all.

Broome’s dominance inside has been unmatched. He converts nearly 80% of his shots against man-to-man defenses and an absurd 87% against zone defenses. That’s efficiency at a level few big men ever reach. And while Flagg might have the better numbers on paper, Broome’s supporters argue that his competition has been much tougher. Auburn plays in the SEC, the strongest conference in college basketball, while Duke has benefited from playing in a weaker ACC this year.

Before his injury, Broome was running away with the award. He had monster performances against elite teams—20 points against Houston, 24 against Missouri, and multiple double-doubles in huge SEC matchups. But missing time due to injury gave Flagg a chance to close the gap. Since coming back, Broome has struggled at times, including back-to-back games with fewer than 10 points. His supporters argue that he’s still the most valuable player on the best team, but others worry that his late-season dip has cost him the award.

Flagg vs Broome: The Fight for College Basketball’s National Player of the Year

Does Strength of Schedule Matter

One of the biggest arguments in Broome’s favor is the level of competition he’s faced. Auburn has played the toughest schedule in the country, constantly going up against teams that are tournament-bound. According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the SEC is on track to send 12 teams to the NCAA Tournament. That means Broome has been tested against the best of the best, night in and night out.

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Duke, on the other hand, has had a much easier road. The ACC is experiencing one of its weakest seasons in history, with only three teams projected to make the tournament. Since December 4, Auburn has played 17 teams ranked in KenPom’s top 50, while Duke has played only four. If strength of competition is a major factor for voters, that could tip the scales back in Broome’s favor.

But on the flip side, Flagg’s numbers have been so dominant that it might not matter. He’s been playing at a historic level, regardless of who he’s faced. If the award is about the best individual player, then Flagg’s performance speaks for itself.

Who Will Win

At the end of the day, this race is going to come down to what voters value most. If they prioritize overall dominance and statistical impact, Cooper Flagg has the edge. He’s putting up numbers we haven’t seen in years and has been the best all-around player in college basketball.

But if voters emphasize strength of competition and team success, Johni Broome still has a shot. Auburn has been the No. 1 team for most of the season, and Broome has been their leader. His early-season performances were enough to make him the clear favorite before his injury, and if he can finish strong, he might be able to reclaim the top spot.

Both players have had incredible seasons, and no matter who wins, they’ve each proven themselves as elite talents. But right now, Flagg has the momentum. And if history has taught us anything about award races, it’s that finishing strong matters most.