The Duke men’s basketball team is just two victories away from securing its second ACC tournament championship in the last three years. However, to advance to the title game, the top-seeded Blue Devils must first overcome their fierce rival, North Carolina, in Friday night’s ACC semifinals at the Spectrum Center. Unfortunately, they may have to do so without their leading scorer, Cooper Flagg, who suffered an apparent left ankle injury during the first half of Thursday’s ACC quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech. The injury sidelined him for the entire second half.
Flagg finished the game with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting, along with four rebounds, two steals, and a block. Despite his absence, Duke managed to secure the win and now faces a UNC team they swept in the regular season, including a victory in Chapel Hill just six days ago.
The big question heading into Friday’s semifinal is whether Flagg will be available to play. Based on comments from Duke head coach Jon Scheyer during his postgame press conference Thursday, it seems highly unlikely. Scheyer described Flagg as a “long shot” to suit up against the Tar Heels.
“To be honest with you, I would have to be convinced by everyone in the locker room that he should play. It’s not worth it. It just isn’t,” Scheyer said. “His ankle was already swollen. It’s not about being ready to go tomorrow. That’s not the most important thing for us. We need to focus on getting him right for the tournament run we’re aiming for. I’d have to be really convinced to even consider letting him play tomorrow. He probably won’t be able to go anyway. It’s a real long shot. A real long shot.”
With Flagg’s status in doubt, Duke will need to rely on its depth and resilience to keep its ACC championship hopes alive.
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