Mar 13, 2025, 04:19 PM ET
The varsity basketball global reputedly stopped spinning when Cooper Flagg went down with a left ankle damage within the first part of Duke’s ACC event quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech on Thursday.
The freshman phenom was once helped to the locker room, then later noticed in a wheelchair, and in the end didn’t go back for the second one part. The Blue Devils additionally misplaced Maliq Brown, who was once taken to the medical institution after struggling a shoulder damage.
Duke trainer Jon Scheyer informed the media that Flagg’s X-rays have been adverse, indicating it is a sprain, however that it is a “actual lengthy shot” that he returns for Friday’s semifinal. With uncertainty across the standing of each gamers, Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf weigh in on what those trends may just imply for the Blue Devils on Variety Sunday and past.
How may just Duke’s seeding be impacted if Cooper Flagg’s standing is unsure on Sunday night time?
Joe Lunardi: The choice committee will wait so long as conceivable for info and regulate Duke’s bracket place accordingly. If he does now not go back within the ACC event, like Scheyer indicated, however with a analysis of taking part in early within the NCAA event, my bet is the Blue Devils will retain their most probably No. 1 seed — it might take a near-certain absence of Flagg’s products and services for that to switch.
Jeff Borzello: If Duke wins the ACC event with out Flagg, there would possibly not be a lot of a query right here. But when the Blue Devils lose in Friday’s semifinals — and Houston, Florida and Michigan State each and every win their convention tournaments — may just that doubtlessly drop them to the 2-seed line? It kind of feels not going, however the committee must hope there are extra solutions than questions via Sunday night time.
Myron Medcalf: Previous this week, Bubba Cunningham — North Carolina’s athletic director and chair of the choice committee — stated you need to observe that each and every member has a unique set of standards they prioritize on Variety Sunday. That stated, if we get knowledge that Flagg’s ankle damage may just linger, it would influence the dialog concerning the total No. 1 seed. Barring any replace that may point out Flagg may well be out for an extended stretch, it is in doubt that this information would erase Duke’s whole frame of labor from the season and strip the Blue Devils of that prime seed.
Cooper Flagg suffered a left ankle damage overdue within the first part of Thursday’s ACC event quarterfinal towards Georgia Tech. Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs
Scheyer stated it is a “actual lengthy shot” that Flagg performs in Friday’s semifinals. If you are Scheyer, would you imagine sitting Flagg for Saturday’s ultimate, too?
Borzello: I would possibly move a step additional and take a seat him till the second one spherical of the NCAA event, relying how issues glance within the coming days and subsequent week. As discussed above, it is not going the Blue Devils will lose their spot at the 1-seed line — and so they almost definitely should not want Flagg to dispatch a 16-seed within the first spherical of the event. However that every one depends on what Flagg’s ankle seems like via Friday morning and the way he can set up the swelling and ache.
Medcalf: Completely. Scheyer could also be most probably desirous about Flagg’s long term on the subsequent degree — there’s no reason why for him to play some other recreation till the second one spherical of the NCAA event. That might give him greater than every week to leisure. And Duke could be positive till then. Nonetheless, it is price reiterating that we do not know sufficient to know the severity of the damage and what it could imply for Flagg and Duke.
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How would Flagg’s and Brown’s doable absences influence Duke’s recreation plan?
Borzello: It will in point of fact diminish Duke’s frontcourt. At complete energy, the Blue Devils have a near-perfect rotation — a balanced beginning 5, veterans and an instant-impact scorer at the bench, plus measurement and fouls down low. Flagg’s absence would clearly harm Duke in all places the court docket, given his playmaking talent on the offensive finish and his off-ball consciousness at the defensive aspect. Mason Gillis would see a larger position with Flagg out, as may just freshman scorer Isaiah Evans, merely from a shotmaking point of view. However Brown lacking time once more would power Scheyer to make use of freshman giant guy Patrick Ngongba, who did play neatly towards Georgia Tech on Thursday however is reasonably unproven this season.
Medcalf: The stretch with out Brown previous this season demonstrated one of the vital defensive problems this staff has with out him. Return to the win over Auburn in Dec. 4: Scheyer stated Brown performed a pivotal position in that recreation as a result of he may just guard Johni Broome, which intended Duke did not need to create any abnormal scheme or transfer on protection, or put Flagg in a susceptible spot for foul hassle. Brown had it lined. That is how a lot he approach to this staff. Avid gamers like him are important within the postseason, however Flagg is the most efficient participant in The us — Duke is a unique staff with out him. Sure, the Blue Devils will nonetheless have lottery choices on their roster, however they are now not Ultimate 4 just right with out Flagg. Greater than anything else, they would want gamers like Gillis and Ngongba to log extra mins. And Kon Knueppel would must be the offensive catalyst for this staff, along Tyrese Proctor, till Flagg’s go back.
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May just Flagg’s damage influence awards races?
Borzello: Broome’s momentum towards a runaway Picket Award marketing campaign was once halted when he suffered an ankle damage in mid-January, opening the door for Flagg to take the lead on this race (despite the fact that Flagg’s traditionally just right month of January would have created an intense debate regardless). Whether or not the damage will influence vote casting — which, for the Picket Award, closes after the primary weekend of the NCAA event — in point of fact is dependent upon the severity of the damage and what sort of time Flagg in the end misses. Broome was once anticipated to pass over a couple of weeks however ended up being sidelined for simply two video games. As of now, I in my opinion nonetheless lean Flagg.
Medcalf: Citizens are actually making their ultimate selections concerning the Picket Award as we talk, however maximum have most probably made their possible choices via now. We have now watched Broome and Flagg compete for the “very best participant in The us” identify for the ultimate four-plus months. Broome has been nice, however Flagg has been probably the most impactful participant within the nation. If he is out for a longer duration, it could impact the vote for individuals who have determined that the result of Champ Week and the primary and 2d rounds of the NCAA event will influence their selections. However keep in mind: Kenyon Martin suffered a damaged leg all over Cincinnati’s quarterfinal recreation in its convention event 25 years in the past, and he nonetheless received the Picket Award, even though that season’s race additionally wasn’t as shut as this one between Broome and Flagg.
