On Thursday, Duke ahead Cooper Flagg confirmed he plans to return within the Blue Devils’ NCAA Match opener in opposition to Mount St. Mary’s on Friday at 2:50 p.m. ET on CBS.
Flagg suffered an ankle injury within the ACC Match quarterfinals in opposition to Georgia Tech on March 13 and missed the Blue Devils’ previous two video games. Flagg stated he wasn’t restricted in apply Wednesday and is “pain-free,” based on ESPN’s David Hale.
“We have been working by way of the steps of simply getting again to one hundred pc, and I really feel superb,” Flagg stated Thursday, per Hale. “I am very assured shifting ahead.”
No. 1 seed Duke (31-3) may in all probability win its matchup in opposition to No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary’s (23-12) with out Flagg, who leads the staff in scoring (18.9 factors per recreation in 32 video games). It captured the ACC Match title with out the 6-foot-9, 205-pounder.
Extra importantly, Mount St. Mary’s would not appear like a staff that would upset the Blue Devils. They’re No. 236 in the NET rankings, and ESPN Analytics provides them a 1% chance to beat Duke.
With Duke’s first-round matchup wanting like a possible breeze, that will elevate questions on whether or not Flagg ought to relaxation.
In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, the Washington Wizards take him with choose No. 1. Struggling a significant harm may influence his NBA future.
Nonetheless, NBC Sports activities analyst/former Michigan guard Jalen Rose famous if Flagg would not play, that would enhance the possibility Duke will get bounced.
“Sure, it is the NCAA Match,” Rose stated Tuesday when requested if Duke may lose with out Flagg, by way of Fox News’ Scott Thompson. “And the one factor in regards to the separation between groups, it is not as mighty whenever you’re with out your greatest participant who is likely to be the No. 1 choose within the [2025 NBA] Draft. That is simply how this works. So, sure, they may very well be in hassle if he would not come again.”
With that in thoughts, Flagg in all probability would not need his staff to take its probabilities with out him.
