Duke Prepares for NCAA Tournament as Cooper Flagg Eyes Return

The Blue Devils, a No. 1 seed in the East, plan for their opening game while monitoring Flagg's recovery from an ankle injury.

Duke secured the No. 1 seed in the East Region after winning the ACC Tournament, despite Cooper Flagg missing the semifinals and finals due to an ankle sprain.
Head coach Jon Scheyer has expressed optimism that Flagg will be ready to play in the team's first-round game on March 21 against the winner of American and Mount St. Mary’s.
Flagg, a frontrunner for National Player of the Year and the likely No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is critical to Duke's title aspirations.
Analysts are divided on whether Duke should play Flagg in the first round or prioritize his recovery for tougher matchups in later rounds.
The East Region features strong competition, including Alabama and Arizona, making Duke's path to the Final Four particularly challenging.