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Cooper Flagg injury update: NCAA Senior VP hints at Duke star's status for NCAA Tournament

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/15/25•

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NCAA Senior Vice President Dan Gavitt was asked how Duke’s seeding could be affected by the injury to Cooper Flagg in the ACC Tournament. With the NCAA Tournament approaching this week, Duke could be a No. 1 seed when it’s all said and done.

Gavitt said the committee is aware of Flagg’s injury and others across college basketball. He exp[lained how the committee handles injuries of that magnitude as well.

Flagg won’t play in Saturday night’s ACC Championship Game against Louisville. While his status is up in the air for Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament, he should be back soon, if not for that game itself. Gavitt gave a little hint to Flagg’s status.

“We understand from communication with Duke and the ACC that Cooper Flagg will be available for the NCAA tournament, so don’t expect that to impact their seeding,” Gavitt said on CBS. “He is not the only significant injury we’re tracking other injuries from other teams. Player availability is always a concern and a consideration, and could potentially impact seeding, especially if a player is unavailable to play in the NCAA Tournament. Player availability is also considered in evaluating a team during the regular season based on player, injuries and missed games.”

It’s a significant loss for the Blue Devils. Flagg is averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season while shooting 49.4% from the field and 37.7% from beyond the arc.

In the midst of a legendary debut campaign, Flagg is a frontrunner for the National Player of the Year Award. After Duke’s 82-69 win over North Carolina in its regular-season finale, Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer weighed in on the race for the coveted award.

“Look, I mean, for me, it’s Cooper,” Scheyer said last Saturday. “That’s not knocking anybody — I mean, we played [Auburn star Johni] Broome, he’s a great player — but Cooper, the way he impacts every aspect of the game, I don’t think we’ve seen in college for a long time.

“He impacts it in every way, and tonight’s a good example… But again, that’s not what Cooper plays for. That’s not what we play for. But obviously, recognition you always appreciate and is good. But we’ll keep control of what we can. That’s the best we can do.”