Jalen Rose explains 'mighty' impact if Cooper Flagg plays for Duke to start NCAA Tournament

Cooper Flagg’s availability for the Duke Blue Devils successful the NCAA Tournament is 1 of the biggest storylines surrounding the No. 1 effect successful the East Region. 

Flagg suffered an evident near ankle wounded successful the ACC quarterfinals against Georgia Tech, and helium has yet to measurement ft connected a tribunal to play since then. Despite the wounded to Flagg, arsenic good arsenic Maliq Brown dealing with a dislocated near shoulder, Duke finished arsenic ACC champions to unafraid the apical effect successful their region. 

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Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg, #2, cuts the nett aft winning the 2025 ACC Conference Championship crippled against the Louisville Cardinals astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

College hoops fable Jalen Rose spoke to Fox News Digital connected behalf of Fanatics Sportsbook, and helium explained however Duke volition not beryllium arsenic "mighty" if Flagg is not capable to suit up to commencement March Madness.

"Yes, it’s the NCAA Tournament," Rose said erstwhile asked if Flagg’s lack could pb to Duke being upset early. "And the 1 happening astir the separation betwixt teams, it isn’t arsenic mighty erstwhile you’re without your champion subordinate who mightiness beryllium the fig 1 prime successful the [2025 NBA] Draft. That’s conscionable however this works. 

"So, yes, they could beryllium successful occupation if helium doesn’t travel back."

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Flagg’s beingness for Duke is evident successful presumption of winning a nationalist title. He leads successful scoring (18.9 points per game) and rebounding (7.5), arsenic good arsenic assists (4.1), steals (1.5) and the database goes on. 

However, determination is simply a good enactment the Blue Devils indispensable walk, Rose says. 

Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg, #2, and guardant Maliq Brown, #6, connected the seat during the archetypal fractional against the North Carolina Tar Heels astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

"If you’re him and them, you don’t privation to unreserved him backmost due to the fact that you don’t privation him to beryllium retired determination for 1 half, oregon adjacent 1 game, and not beryllium capable to marque a agelong tourney run," helium explained. 

"So, that’s wherefore they enlistee different All-Americans, that’s wherefore they’re 1 of the large programs successful the past of collegiate basketball. They got different large players connected the team. They’ve got to clasp it down for their feline until helium gets back."

Blue Devils caput manager Jon Scheyer did springiness a precise affirmative update connected Flagg connected Sunday pursuing his team’s 73-62 triumph implicit Louisville to triumph the ACC Tournament. 

"I deliberation it’s trending successful a large mode wherever Cooper volition beryllium acceptable to spell close distant successful the NCAA Tournament," Scheyer said. 

Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg, #2, walks to the seat during the archetypal fractional against the North Carolina Tar Heels astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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That would beryllium terrific quality for the Blue Devils, who volition instrumentality connected the victor of the "First Four" matchup betwixt American and Mount St. Mary’s successful the archetypal circular connected Friday astatine 2:50 p.m. successful Raleigh, North Carolina. 

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