Cooper Flagg, Duke Beat Alabama to Clinch Final Four Berth as CBB Fans Eye NCAA Title

Duke men's basketball is one step closer to returning to the national championship game for the first time in 10 years.

Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils defeated Alabama 85-65 in Saturday night's regional final action to earn a trip to the Final Four in San Antonio.

Duke last made it to the national championship game when Tyus Jones and the Blue Devils won it all in 2015.

Only the winner of Sunday's contest between Tennessee and Houston stands between Duke and another shot at the championship.

After watching Duke claim a dominant win over the No. 2 Crimson Tide, some college basketball fans are now convinced seeing the Blue Devils in the final is an inevitability.

After Duke pulled out to a ten-point lead in the first five minutes, Alabama spent the rest of the game trying to catch up.

Although the Crimson Tide pulled within seven points later in the game, Duke's defense was able to shut down the rally. The Blue Devils offense closed out the win with a 13-0 run late in the second half.

Kon Knueppel led Duke's offense with 21 points, while Flagg contributed 16 points, nine rebounds and a block.

Tyrese Proctor showed off his accuracy with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field, while lob threat Khaman Maluach added 14 points of his own.

Freshman guard Labaron Philon led Alabama with 16 points in the loss, while Grant Nelson and Chris Youngblood each added double-digit points totals.

As the Crimson Tide's season comes to an end, Knueppel, Proctor, Flagg and Maluach will now get some time off before the Final Four begins on April 5.

Houston and Tennessee tip off their Elite Eight game with the chance to face Duke in the national semifinal on the line Sunday afternoon at 2:20 p.m. ET.