The college basketball world seemed to come to a standstill when Cooper Flagg, Duke’s freshman phenom, suffered a left ankle injury during the first half of the Blue Devils’ ACC tournament quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech on Thursday. Flagg was helped to the locker room, later seen in a wheelchair, and ultimately did not return for the second half. To make matters worse, Duke also lost Maliq Brown, who was taken to the hospital with a shoulder injury.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer told reporters that Flagg’s X-rays were negative, indicating a sprain, but he called it a “real long shot” that Flagg would return for Friday’s semifinal. With both players’ statuses up in the air, ESPN analysts Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi, and Myron Medcalf weighed in on how these developments could impact Duke’s seeding on Selection Sunday and beyond.
**How could Duke’s seeding be affected if Cooper Flagg’s status remains uncertain by Sunday night?**
*Joe Lunardi*: The selection committee will likely wait as long as possible for updates and adjust Duke’s seeding accordingly. If Flagg doesn’t return for the ACC tournament—as Scheyer suggested—but is expected to play early in the NCAA tournament, the Blue Devils will probably retain their projected No. 1 seed. It would take a near-certainty that Flagg would miss significant time for Duke to drop from the top seed line.
*Jeff Borzello*: If Duke wins the ACC tournament without Flagg, their No. 1 seed is likely safe. However, if they lose in Friday’s semifinals—and teams like Houston, Florida, and Michigan State win their conference tournaments—could that push Duke to a 2-seed? It seems unlikely, but the committee will need clarity by Sunday night to make an informed decision.
*Myron Medcalf*: Bubba Cunningham, North Carolina’s athletic director and chair of the selection committee, recently noted that each committee member prioritizes different criteria. If Flagg’s injury appears serious enough to linger into the NCAA tournament, it could impact Duke’s case for the overall No. 1 seed. However, barring news that Flagg will miss extended time, Duke’s full body of work this season should keep them on the top line.
**Scheyer said it’s a “real long shot” that Flagg plays in Friday’s semifinal. Should he consider sitting Flagg for Saturday’s final as well?**
*Jeff Borzello*: I’d go even further and consider resting Flagg until the second round of the NCAA tournament, depending on how his ankle progresses over the next week. Duke likely won’t lose their No. 1 seed, and they shouldn’t need Flagg to beat a 16-seed in the first round. But this decision will depend on Flagg’s recovery and pain management.
*Myron Medcalf*: Absolutely. Scheyer is likely thinking about Flagg’s long-term future, including his NBA prospects. There’s no reason to rush him back before the NCAA tournament’s second round, which would give him over a week to recover. Duke has enough talent to handle the early rounds without him. That said, we still don’t know the full extent of Flagg’s injury or its potential impact on Duke’s postseason run.
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