The No. 1-seeded Duke Blue Devils are set to kick off their NCAA Tournament campaign against No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary’s, and all eyes are on the highly anticipated return of freshman standout Cooper Flagg. After missing the ACC Tournament semifinals and championship due to an ankle sprain sustained against Georgia Tech, Flagg is officially back in action.
Duke confirmed his availability on Thursday with a post stating, “Coop update –> active tomorrow vs. Mount St. Mary’s.” On game day, the Blue Devils followed up with a six-word message capturing the excitement of his return: “The day we’ve been waiting for.”
Duke has been dominant all season, finishing with a 31-3 overall record and a 19-1 mark in the ACC, earning them the No. 1 spot in the final AP rankings. However, the NCAA Tournament resets the playing field, where every team starts fresh at 0-0, and a single loss can end the season.
As the betting favorite and the most selected team in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge, Duke carries immense pressure. Their championship hopes may rest on Flagg, who led the team in nearly every statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and minutes played.
Duke’s first-round matchup is set to tip off at 2:50 p.m. EST, with the winner advancing to face either No. 9 seed Baylor or No. 8 seed Mississippi State in the second round.