Duke freshman sensation Cooper Flagg suffered a painful ankle sprain during the Blue Devils’ ACC Tournament quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech, casting doubt on his availability for the rest of the tournament-and possibly March Madness.

The moment Cooper Flagg gets injured

With 2:46 left in the first half, Flagg went up for a rebound but landed awkwardly after accidentally clipping Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo’s foot. His left ankle rolled severely, sending the 6-foot-9 star crashing to the floor in visible pain. Frustrated, Flagg hobbled to the bench, pounded a chair, and was soon taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

Cooper Flagg’s injury status and Duke’s response

X-rays confirmed no fracture, and Flagg later returned to the Duke bench but did not play in the second half. After the game, head coach Jon Scheyer called it a “real longshot” that Flagg would be available for the ACC semifinals, emphasizing that the team is prioritizing his long-term health for the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s not about being ready to go tomorrow,” Scheyer said. “We’ve got to see if we can get him right for this run in the (NCAA) Tournament.”

Flagg, recently named the ACC Player and Newcomer of the Year, was unavailable for postgame interviews as he continued receiving treatment.

Another blow for Duke: Maliq Brown’s shoulder injury

Flagg wasn’t the only key Duke player to go down. Just minutes earlier, Maliq Brown-a critical defensive forward-dislocated his left shoulder, an injury that had already sidelined him for nearly three weeks before his recent return.

With March Madness on the horizon, Duke now faces major injury concerns. Will Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown recover in time to lead the Blue Devils on a championship run? Duke fans are holding their breath.