NCAA Exec: Duke's Cooper Flagg Expected to Be Available for March Madness amid Injury

The NCAA expects Duke star Cooper Flagg to return from his ankle injury in time for March Madness.

NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt provided the update when asked on the CBS pregame show if Flagg's injury would change the Blue Devils' tournament seeding.

"We understand through 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 Saturday.

Flagg, who has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during Thursday's ACC Tournament quarterfinal, will sit out Saturday's conference title game against Louisville.

Cooper had to be helped off the court after injuring his left ankle Thursday in the first half of Duke's comeback win over Georgia Tech.

Flagg was later spotted in a wheelchair on his way to get X-rays. He eventually returned to the sideline despite being ruled out for the rest of the game.

Head coach Jon Scheyer said after Thursday's win that the X-rays were negative, and that Flagg had suffered an ankle sprain.

Flagg then sat out Friday night's ACC Tournament semifinal against UNC, and Scheyer said after the game he would miss Saturday's conference tournament final as well.

"As far as Cooper goes, he's doing better," Scheyer said Friday (h/t Rodd Baxley of the Fayetteville Observer.)

Scheyer continued: "He's not going to play. He can't play. But our goal is to have him ready for the tournament. But we need to see how this weekend goes with the swelling and what he can do."

The Blue Devils are also waiting for an update on forward Maliq Brown, who will miss the rest of the ACC Tournament after suffering a dislocated left shoulder in Thursday's quarterfinals. Scheyer said Friday night there is "no expectation of him playing anytime soon."

Duke sits ahead of Houston and Auburn in the latest AP men's college basketball poll and could potentially be named the overall No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.

The first round of the NCAA Tournament begins Thursday, followed by the start of the second round next Saturday.