One defensive rebound. That’s all it took to send shockwaves through Charlotte’s Spectrum Center during the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Late in the first half against Georgia Tech, Cooper Flagg jumped for a routine board, but what happened next gave a heart attack to thousands! One second he was in the air, the next he was on the floor. His ankle rolled underneath him, and suddenly, Duke’s high-flyer could not even walk.

It was a harrowing experience for the Cameron Crazies. Flagg hopped towards the bench on one leg, relying on his teammates for support, and was later wheeled out for scans. Even though top-ranked Blue Devils still managed a 78-70 win, driven by freshman Kon Knueppel’s career-high 28 points, but the victory felt hollow. The lingering question of ‘is this it?’ plagued the minds of Duke fans. It’s a well-known fact that the Blue Devils are relying on Cooper Flagg. Without him, their postseason dreams turn to dust.

However, Blue Devils supporters have nothing to worry about! Jon Scheyer, the head coach of the team, brought positive updates on the six-foot-nine phenom’s condition. Speaking post-game on March 13, 2025, at the Spectrum Center, Scheyer calmed fears just days before Selection Sunday From what it looks like, it’s nothing major.

According to Scheyer, Flagg’s injury is quite manageable. Not only that, he talked about the scan results, and rehabilitation going forward. “Cooper, he just came down and sprained his ankle. X-rays were negative which is great. We just have to understand that there will be swelling, and to see how he recovers, and how he goes from there.” An ankle sprain is always unpleasant to deal with, but thankfully, it’s nothing season-threatening.

So, Blue Devils fans, you can sleep easy tonight! It seems like Cooper Flagg can’t be counted out so soon. The swelling does cause some concern, however, as it might mean that Flagg won’t play for a game or two. Still, it’s a lot better than the worst-case scenario. Jon Scheyer’s system might have suffered a thumping blow, however, as Cooper Flagg wasn’t the only player suffering from injury.

Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown’s injury poses huge defensive question for Scheyer

Maliq Brown might not be a star, but his impact on the team is larger than life. The six-foot-nine forward is a defensive anchor for Duke, and his injury really messed things up for Scheyer and his team. It all started when he went for as teal against Virginia and dislocated his shoulder, sidelining him for three weeks until he returned March 8 at North Carolina—only to re-injure it against Georgia Tech just five days later. We thought he was better, but it seems like the problem is recurring.

Jon Scheyer addressed Brown’s injury, and this time he didn’t have great news to share. “Maliq was in a lot of pain, and he re-dislocated his shoulder.” He said, pointing out it was a repeat injury. However, the magnitude isn’t anything to joke at. “That’s why we got him a stretcher, just because to tolerate the pain. He’s in a lot of pain. He’s at the hospital now. We’ll figure out how he’s doing. I’m gonna figure out if I can go see him right now.”

Last time, Cooper Flagg picked up the slack. But with both of them injured this time around, Jon Scheyer has his work cut out for him. Luckily, the other players are no slouches either. Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, and Isaiah Evans are balling out right now.

It’s a blessing for Duke that Cooper Flagg’s injury is nothing serious. Without him, their chances of a championship go down drastically. It will be interesting to see how he deals with this setback moving forward in March, but he can’t afford to give his injury too much thought. With Selection Sunday on March 16 and Duke projected as a No. 1 seed—possibly the overall top seed if they win the ACC title—Flagg’s eight-day recovery window could be key. There’s a title to be won, and it will all come down to Cooper Flagg for Duke.