NCAA: Duke says Flagg to be available for tourney

• Myron MedcalfMar 15, 2025, 05:07 PM ET

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Duke star Cooper Flagg, who suffered an ankle injury throughout the team’s ACC tournament opener Thursday, will be available for the NCAA tournament, according to Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of males’s basketball.In action to a

concern from CBS’ Seth Davis about injuries possibly impacting a group’s seeding on Selection Sunday, Gavitt stated both the school and the league had communicated to the choice committee that Flagg, the ACC Player of the Year, will be prepared to choose next week’s NCAA competition.

“What we comprehend from communication with Duke and the ACC is that Cooper Flagg will be offered for the NCAA tournament, so don’t expect that to affect their seeding,” Gavitt stated Saturday. “He is not the only substantial injury. We’re tracking other injuries from other teams. Gamer schedule is always an issue and a consideration and could potentially affect seeding, specifically if a player is not available to play in the NCAA competition.”

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Flagg, the predicted No. 1 choice in the 2025 NBA draft and the preferred to win the Wood Award, fell awkwardly on his left ankle and needed to be brought off the court during his team’s 78-70 win over Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament quarterfinal on Thursday. X-rays were negative, however he was eliminated of Friday’s 74-71 win over competing North Carolina in the semifinals and Saturday’s ACC competition title game against Louisville.Maliq Brown, another key player on Duke’s lineup, suffered a shoulder injury in the ACC tournament that might impact his status for the NCAA tournament, too. Coach Jon Scheyer said the injury might keep Brown out for a long period.During Friday’s win over UNC, Flagg played the function of cheerleader on the sideline as his team won its third game this season over the Tar Heels after a lane violation by North Carolina’s Jae’Lyn Withers in the final seconds sealed the victory.With Flagg, Duke has produced among the very best résumés in the nation.

Heaven Devils beat Arizona and Auburn in the nonconference season before they finished 19-1 to catch the ACC regular-season title.But Flagg’s injury seemed to make complex the championship game goals for a group that last won the

nationwide title a decade earlier when Tyus Jones won The majority of Impressive Gamer honors.After Friday’s win over the Tar Heels, Scheyer stated the group is working to get Flagg prepared for the NCAA competition.” As far as [

Flagg] goes, he’s doing better,”Scheyer stated. “Sprained ankle. All the imaging came back negative.

He sprained it respectable, though. It’s an excellent sprain. I’m not breaking any news. He’s not going to play [in the ACC title video game] He can’t play. However our objective is to have him ready for the NCAA competition. However we require to see how this weekend chooses the swelling and what he can do.”