2 min read • March 13, 2025
Posted in
-Taylor Bicht - @flyeronthewall
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, suffered an ankle injury during the ACC Tournament quarterfinals against Georgia Tech. Flagg played just 15 minutes before going down with what appeared to be a Grade 2 left inversion ankle sprain, according to video analysis by sicscore.com. The injury occurred when Flagg grabbed a rebound, slipped, and fell, causing his shoe to come off—something that likely prevented more significant damage. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and his status moving forward remains in question.
At SICscore.com, our panel of Pro Sports Docs expects Flagg to sit out Duke’s next matchup against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament semifinals. Given that Duke is a legitimate national title contender, currently sitting at +375 odds on BetMGM, the Blue Devils would be wise to rest Flagg in preparation for the NCAA Tournament. While missing him against their biggest rival in a crucial ACC matchup would be a blow, preserving his health for March Madness is the top priority.
The bigger concern for Duke is that Flagg is unlikely to be 100% when the NCAA Tournament begins. This would be a significant setback for the Blue Devils' championship hopes, as Flagg has emerged as one of, if not the best player in college basketball this season. He is averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, making him the centerpiece of Duke’s title aspirations. His injury also adds to Duke’s growing concerns, as forward Maliq Brown re-aggravated a previous shoulder injury in the same game against Georgia Tech.
With the ACC Tournament still ongoing and the NCAA Tournament looming, Duke must carefully manage Flagg’s recovery to maximize their championship potential. His availability and effectiveness in the coming weeks will be a major storyline as March Madness unfolds.
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