Cooper Flagg’s availability for the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament remains one of the most significant storylines surrounding the No. 1 seed in the East Region.
Flagg suffered what appeared to be a left ankle injury during Duke’s ACC quarterfinal matchup against Georgia Tech, and since then, he has yet to return to the court. His absence raises concerns about Duke’s ability to maintain its dominance heading into the tournament.
In addition to Flagg’s injury, Duke is also dealing with Maliq Brown’s dislocated left shoulder. Despite these setbacks, the Blue Devils fought through adversity to win the ACC Championship and secure the top seed in their region.
However, Flagg’s status remains a pressing question as March Madness approaches.
College basketball legend Jalen Rose, speaking to Fox News Digital on behalf of Fanatics Sportsbook, emphasized the potential impact of Flagg’s absence on Duke’s title hopes. He explained that the Blue Devils could be vulnerable to an early exit without their star player.
“Yes, it’s the NCAA Tournament,” Rose said when asked if Flagg’s absence could lead to Duke being upset early. “And the one thing about the separation between teams, it isn’t as mighty when you’re without your best player who might be the number one pick in the [2025 NBA] Draft. That’s just how this works. So, yes, they could be in trouble if he doesn’t come back.”
Flagg leads Duke’s title push, but Rose warns.
“If you’re him and them, you don’t want to rush him back because you don’t want him to be out there for one half, or even one game, and not be able to make a long tournament run,” he explained.
“So, that’s why they recruit other All-Americans, that’s why they’re one of the great programs in the history of collegiate basketball. They got other great players on the team. They’ve got to hold it down for their guy until he gets back.”
Jalen Rose explains 'mighty' impact if Cooper Flagg plays for Duke to start NCAA Tournament https://t.co/vqDNzslitJ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 18, 2025
