Duke's NCAA Tournament Hopes in Question as Cooper Flagg's Status Remains Uncertain

Star freshman Cooper Flagg's ankle injury casts doubt on his availability, while Duke enters as the No. 1 seed facing injuries and coaching changes.

Cooper Flagg, Duke's standout freshman and a top NBA prospect, is recovering from an ankle sprain sustained during the ACC Tournament.
Head coach Jon Scheyer has expressed cautious optimism about Flagg's return for Duke's first-round game on Friday but has not confirmed his availability.
Duke secured the No. 1 seed in the East Region despite Flagg's absence in the ACC Tournament's final two games, which the team won.
In addition to Flagg's injury, Duke faces challenges with forward Maliq Brown sidelined by a shoulder injury and the departure of defensive coordinator Jai Lucas to Miami.
Despite these setbacks, Duke remains the odds-on favorite to win the NCAA Tournament, reflecting the team's depth and regular-season dominance.