With March Madness starting next Thursday, 68 teams are resting after their conference tournaments and preparing to try to make a run in the tournament. Playing multiple games on consecutive days can take a toll on a squad, with fatigue and injuries racking up.
No team was affected by this more than the Duke Blue Devils. Their star forward, Cooper Flagg, was injured in the first half of Duke’s game against Georgia Tech on Thursday, March 13. Duke faithful have been on pins and needles waiting to see if Flagg can compete.
Cooper Flagg Expected to Play in NCAA Tournament
The worst possible scenario occurred when Duke fans watched their team play Georgia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament. Flagg, who went up for a rebound, landed awkwardly on a Georgia Tech player’s foot. Flagg went down instantly, appearing in pain, grabbing his ankle.
Flagg returned to the bench but did not re-enter the game after teammates took him to the locker room; he was later seen in a wheelchair. After the game, head coach John Scheyer said Flagg was a ‘long shot’ to the next game against UNC. Duke would go on to win the ACC Tournament, but Flagg didn’t see the court again in the conference tournament after his injury.
With the ACC tournament in the rearview mirror, the focus returns to Flagg and his ankle. NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt was fielding questions based on whether Flagg’s injury will affect their seeding and whether he heard anything related to Duke’s star returning to play.
“What we understand from communication with Duke and the ACC is that Cooper Flagg will be available for the NCAA tournament.”
NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt provides an update on the @DukeMBB star, who is expected to recover from his ankle injury in time for… pic.twitter.com/MGgg8YTuA1
— CBS Sports College Basketball
(@CBSSportsCBB) March 15, 2025
Duke Fans Rejoice Over Cooper Flagg Injury Update
With Flagg’s availability, Duke can now focus on making a run in the tournament. The Blue Devils finished first in the ACC and won the conference tournament dominantly, finishing the season with a 31-3 record. Duke will be a one-seed in March Madness and need Flagg back if they want to make a deep run.
Flagg leads Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, so having him back is essential. The severity of his injury is unknown. It was reported that X-rays came back negative on the ankle, but a quick turnaround of his injury could affect Flagg’s effectiveness.
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Duke is looking to reach its 18th Final Four, the first since 2022, and its sixth national championship. Questions in the coming days surrounding Flagg will be whether he will play in the first game of the tournament. They will have a favorable matchup being a one-seed.
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