CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cooper Flagg went airborne to snag a rebound in his first ACC Tournament recreation when Duke’s freshman star landed awkwardly and crashed to the courtroom, holding his left ankle and writhing in ache.
It got here moments after defensive whiz Maliq Brown needed to be helped to the locker room, his left arm hanging limply by his aspect.
And similar to that, top-ranked Duke now faces severe harm questions that threaten to linger nicely past nevertheless lengthy the Blue Devils play this week in Charlotte.
Coach Jon Scheyer stated it’s a “actual lengthy shot” that the 18-year-old Flagg — thought to be a favourite to be the No. 1 total NBA draft choose each time he jumps to the professionals — will have the ability to play within the Atlantic Coast Convention semifinals because of that sprained ankle suffered during Thursday’s quarterfinal win against Georgia Tech.
And it’s too early to say whether or not Brown will make it again in any respect. He was taken to a close-by hospital after dislocating his left shoulder once more lower than every week after getting back from the harm. He performs a significant defensive position along with his capacity to modify screens, guard a number of positions and use his size to tally offense-disrupting deflections.
The accidents are regarding sufficient for a staff that needed to rally from 14 right down to win Thursday, matching its greatest deficit of the season. However there’s one other complication: Any absence, rehab or restoration comes with March Insanity beginning subsequent week, a reality Scheyer alluded to in discussing Flagg’s harm.
“It’s not about being able to go tomorrow,” Scheyer stated. “That’s not crucial factor for us. We’ve bought to see if we will get him proper for this run that we will make within the (NCAA) Event.
“However I must be actually satisfied that we should always even think about seeing if he can go (Friday). He might not have the ability to go anyway. He in all probability gained’t have the ability to go anyway. However I feel it’s an actual lengthy shot, an actual lengthy shot.”
Scheyer stated Flagg was already coping with swelling. He stated X-rays confirmed no fracture for Flagg, who was named Tuesday as The Related Press league player and newcomer of the year.
Flagg wasn’t obtainable to talk with reporters afterward as a result of he was receiving therapy for the harm.
“Cooper’s one of many hardest guys I do know,” guard Sion James stated, including: “I haven’t gotten a an opportunity to see him or discuss to him however I actually hope he’s feeling so much higher.”
The Blue Devils have been trailing 26-17 late within the first half when Flagg went up for a rebound and appeared to have his left foot clip the proper foot of Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo as he got here down within the paint, inflicting his ankle to roll and sending Flagg down grabbing on the joint with 2:46 left within the half.
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Flagg hobbled again to the bench in misery, then bent over along with his fingers on the seats and pounded a chair along with his proper fist.
After sitting on the bench for a couple of minutes, Flagg bought up and put his arms round two teammates and was taken to the locker room for remark. He was later proven in a wheelchair within the bowels of the Spectrum Middle, although he later walked out below his personal energy. He rejoined the bench for the second half however didn’t return to the sport.
When Scheyer greeted every participant with a high-five or a hug after the ultimate horn, Flagg walked gingerly along with his teammates earlier than shaking fingers along with his coach as he filed into the locker room.
As for Brown, he had missed roughly three weeks of motion with a dislocated left shoulder earlier than returning final weekend at North Carolina and enjoying a significant position in Duke’s decisive run that highlighted his significance to the Blue Devils’ long-term prospects.
However moments earlier than Flagg went down, separated by roughly two minutes of recreation motion, the Blue Devils misplaced Brown as he confirmed his versatility by guarding Georgia Tech guard Naithan George on the perimeter.
George tried to dribble to his proper on the prime of the important thing earlier than banging into Brown’s left shoulder. He collected himself, did a jump-step again after which charged ahead to attempt to beat Brown into the paint. Brown reached along with his left arm to attempt to poke the ball free and instantly grabbed on the shoulder, sporting a black supportive sleeve, and doubled over in ache.
Coach Jose Fonseca then needed to information the nonetheless bent-over Brown off the courtroom and to the locker room.
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The Flagg and Brown accidents are a significant hit at each ends for the one staff ranked within the prime 5 nationally in KenPom’s adjusted effectivity metrics for offense (128.7 factors per 100 possessions) and protection (89.9).
“We nervous about it after the sport,” Duke guard Tyrese Proctor stated. “Clearly it’s robust to see them go down. However it’s basketball, it occurs. It’s unlucky. We’re going to get them proper they usually’re going to be good and we’ll simply proceed to play our recreation.”
