Cooper Flagg's Injury Concerns CBB Fans as Duke Beats Georgia Tech in ACC Tournament

Duke avoided a major upset by coming back to defeat Georgia Tech 78-70 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, but the status of star freshman Cooper Flagg is continuing to concern fans.

Flagg suffered an ankle injury late in the first half and was ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's game. He was helped back to the locker room without putting weight on his left leg and was later seen in a wheelchair, though he was able to walk back to the bench under his own power without a walking boot in the second half and support his teammates from the sideline.

Duke trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, and Flagg had just two points on 1-of-7 shooting before exiting the game. However, the Blue Devils put forth a spirited effort after halftime to send the Yellow Jackets home.

After being limited to 26 points in the first half, Duke exploded for 52 points in the second half. Kon Knueppel led the way with 28 points and eight assists, while Khaman Maluach and Isaiah Evans added 14 points apiece.

Despite the impressive comeback by the Blue Devils, fans on social media couldn't help but wonder about Flagg's injury setback:

Flagg is one of the frontrunners for National Player of the Year and the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Many were hoping to see him make his mark in the NCAA tournament, but the injury could dash those dreams.

Duke will be in action in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday against the winner of UNC vs. Wake Forest. Perhaps it would be best for the Blue Devils to keep Flagg on the sidelines so he's recovered in time for the NCAA tournament next week.