Duke gives major Cooper Flagg injury update ahead of March Madness opener

Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury will not keep him out of Duke’s March Madness opener.Head coach Jon Scheyer declared Thursday that the freshman phenom is “ready to go” for the top-seeded Blue Devils’ first-round matchup against No.16 Mount St.

Mary’s Friday afternoon in Raleigh.Flagg told reporters he was back to practicing fully on Wednesday and is expecting to go at 100 percent on Friday.Duke got a scare last Thursday during the ACC Tournament when Flagg rolled his ankle and was put in a wheelchair on his way to get examined.Fortunately for the Blue Devils, the injury does not appear to be severe.Want to tune into as much March Madness as you can? DIRECTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV both have you covered with every channel you’ll need, plus free trials.Flagg, the expected top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, will try to lead Duke to its first national championship in a decade and its first since the retirement of coach Mike Krzyzewski.Duke was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Scheyer’s first year as head coach two years ago before leading the program to the Elite Eight last season.But the expectations are higher for the Blue Devils this go-around as a No.1 seed with a 31-3 record.Flagg has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 32 games.Should Duke win on Friday, it would play the winner of Mississippi State vs.

Baylor on Sunday....