Former Northwestern Center Shares Hilarious Reaction to Duke’s Final Four Loss

Former Northwestern Center Has Hilarious Reaction to Duke’s Final Four Loss

The Blue Devils suffered a tough defeat against Houston on Saturday. After a season plagued by injuries, Northwestern missed the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2022. Despite falling short of the postseason in 2024-25, the Wildcats enjoyed their best three-season stretch in program history.

Blake Preston, a former center for Northwestern, was part of the Wildcats’ 2023-24 squad that made it to the Round of 32. After Houston’s dramatic win over Duke in the Final Four, Preston took to social media to humorously comment on the Blue Devils’ collapse, which included a missed fadeaway shot from National Player of the Year, Cooper Flagg.

“Nick Martinelli would’ve made that shot,” Preston joked, adding a shrug emoji.

Nick Martinelli would’ve made that shot🤷🏻‍♂️

— Blake Preston (@blakepreston_32) April 6, 2025

Duke had a nine-point lead with just 2:15 left, but Houston closed the game with a 15-3 run, scoring nine points in just 30 seconds to advance to the National Championship. Flagg missed a chance to put Duke ahead in the final seconds with a fading jump shot that came up short.

While it might seem far-fetched to compare Martinelli to the potential No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, the Big Ten’s leading scorer is known for hitting incredibly difficult shots. Martinelli has excelled in one of the most physically demanding conferences, often relying on floaters, post hooks, and turnaround jumpers.

Flagg's jumper comes up short for Duke.#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/OeOhLUt74z

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 6, 2025

It’s understandable that Preston would back his former teammate, who recently declared for the NBA Draft.

Preston transferred to Northwestern in 2022 after four seasons at Liberty. The 6-foot-9 forward came off the bench in 28 games for the Wildcats, averaging 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game as Northwestern reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, eventually falling to the National Champion UConn Huskies.