Cooper Flagg’s Ankle Injury Sends Shockwaves Through Duke’s ACC Tournament Run
The ACC quarterfinals were filled with drama, and for Duke, the worst possible scenario unfolded—Cooper Flagg suffered a sprained ankle in his first postseason game. The highly anticipated freshman, hailed as a game-changer for Duke, now faces an uncertain road ahead. Head coach Jon Scheyer was quick to address the situation, expressing little optimism about Flagg’s return for the remainder of the ACC Tournament. “It’s not worth it. It just isn’t,” Scheyer said, making it clear that Duke’s focus is now on the NCAA Tournament, which begins on March 18.
But there’s an added twist to the story. Reports from courtside suggest that Flagg may have unintentionally worsened his injury.
The Shocking Details Behind Flagg’s Injury Management
Rob Dauster, a reporter from the Field of 68: After Dark podcast, was present at the Spectrum Center for Duke’s quarterfinal clash against Georgia Tech. He witnessed Flagg twist his ankle while securing a rebound, leading to a dramatic exit in a wheelchair. After undergoing tests, Flagg returned to the bench for the second half but did not play.
However, Dauster later noticed something surprising—Flagg wasn’t wearing a protective boot or icing his ankle. On the podcast, Dauster shared his concerns:
> “I saw him afterward out underneath some of the stands when he was walking by later, and he didn’t have a boot on, it wasn’t wrapped in ice, which is kinda crazy to me. Cooper, what are you doing? Stop walking around without your shoes on and ice on your ankle.”
In modern sports, injury recovery is highly dependent on proper treatment, and icing a sprained ankle is a standard practice to reduce swelling and prevent further damage. Seeing Flagg without any protective measures was unusual and raised questions about the severity of the injury. Dauster later speculated that Flagg might have avoided a major injury, stating:
> “It didn’t look like something where this was the kind of catastrophic injury that we saw at first. I don’t think his status for NCAA tournament stuff is in jeopardy. That’s not me reporting anything, that’s just me reading through the lines.”
However, Duke’s medical staff had a different perspective. Team trainer Dr. Joseph Wilson told ESPN that Flagg’s mild sprain still showed “significant swelling.” This statement contradicts Dauster’s observations and adds further uncertainty about Flagg’s timeline for recovery.
Duke’s ACC Tournament Run Without Flagg
Duke’s semifinal matchup against North Carolina is set to take place tonight, but Jon Scheyer has all but ruled out Flagg’s participation. During a post-game press conference, the Duke coach made it clear:
> “It’s not about being ready to go tomorrow. That’s not the most important thing for us. We’ve got to see if we can get him right for this run that we can make in the (NCAA) Tournament. I would have to be really convinced that we should even consider seeing if he can go tomorrow. He may not be able to go anyway. He probably won’t be able to go anyway. But I think it’s a real long shot.”
According to general medical guidelines, a mild sprain typically requires 1-2 weeks for recovery. If that timeline holds, Flagg could be ready for Duke’s NCAA opener on March 21.
More Injury Woes for Duke
As if Flagg’s injury wasn’t enough of a setback, Duke suffered another major blow when forward Maliq Brown re-aggravated his dislocated left shoulder just minutes before Flagg went down. Brown had already been dealing with shoulder issues, initially suffering the injury on February 17 against Virginia. He had just returned to action on March 8 but is now expected to miss more time.
Scheyer addressed Brown’s situation with concern, saying:
> “He’s going to miss time no matter what. I mean, is there a chance at some point? I would hope so. But my main concern is just seeing him in such pain. I would hate to speculate without really knowing.”
Brown plays a crucial defensive role for Duke, averaging 1.6 steals per game while being a key component of their fourth-ranked KenPom defense. His absence, combined with Flagg’s, severely impacts the team’s depth.
Who Will Step Up for Duke?
With Flagg and Brown unavailable, Duke will look to freshman big Patrick Ngongba and graduate wing Mason Gillis to step up. In the quarterfinal win against Georgia Tech, Ngongba contributed 6 points and 4 rebounds, while Gillis added 8 points off the bench. Additionally, Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel combined for 42 points, leading Duke to victory.
Duke’s deep bench—ranked fifth nationally in bench minutes (38.2% per KenPom)—could prove to be their saving grace. However, the absence of Flagg’s all-around dominance and Brown’s defensive versatility will put Scheyer’s team to the test as they prepare for Selection Sunday on March 16.
The Big Question: Can Duke Survive Without Flagg?
As Duke moves forward without Flagg and Brown, the biggest question remains—can they rally and surprise everyone, or will their championship hopes crumble under the weight of these injuries? The NCAA Tournament is right around the corner, and all eyes will be on Duke to see how they navigate this unexpected adversity.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation unfolds.