Duke’s Cooper Flagg won’t play in ACC championship game, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer says

Duke eked past North Carolina without Cooper Flagg on Friday, 74-71, and the Blue Devils will be without him again in Saturday’s ACC championship game.

“I’m not breaking any news. He’s not going to play tomorrow. He can’t play,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said afterward. “Our goal is to have him ready for the (NCAA) tournament. But we need to see how this weekend goes with the swelling and what he can do.”

Flagg sprained his left ankle during the first half of Duke’s 78-70 win over Georgia Tech on Thursday, and while he returned to the bench to watch most of the second half, he did not return to the game.

The ACC player and rookie of the year slipped on the court under the basket while coming down with a rebound. Flagg was walking normally without a boot or crutches when Duke arrived at the Spectrum Center on Friday, shortly after 5 p.m.

Flagg is averaging 18.9 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks to lead Duke in all five categories.

Duke forward Maliq Brown, who re-dislocated his left shoulder on Thursday, had his arm in a sling Friday night. Scheyer said he’ll be re-evaluated back in Durham before there’s any further update on his condition.

“We need to give it a couple days,” Scheyer said. “We need to get back to campus and figure this thing out. Obviously, there’s no expectation of him playing anytime soon.“

WIth Flagg in the lineup, albeit in foul trouble in the second meeting, Duke beat North Carolina 87-70 in Durham and 82-69 in Chapel Hill.

This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Duke’s Cooper Flagg won’t play in ACC championship game, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer says."

Luke DeCock

The News & Observer

Luke DeCock is a former journalist for the News & Observer.