The Impact of Cooper Flagg’s Injury on NCAA Tournament Odds

In a recent development for the Blue Devils basketball team, head coach Jon Scheyer confirmed on Thursday that a medical scan on their star player, Cooper Flagg’s ankle turned out to be negative. The freshman sensation was forced to exit the ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech on Thursday due to an ankle sprain.

The injury occurred as Flagg was landing from a defensive rebound with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. His immediate reaction of grabbing his ankle and his visible discomfort on the court caused much concern among Duke fans and team members. He was swiftly escorted off the court back to the locker room where he was taken for a medical examination.

Despite initial doubts about his return to the game, Flagg’s absence didn’t deter the Blue Devils. Duke trailed by double digits before rallying to emerge victorious over the Yellow Jackets by a score of 78-70.

Though Flagg displayed signs of frustration following his injury, he was seen later walking without a limp. That raised some hope about his recovery. However, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer seemed cautious about Flagg’s participation in the upcoming semifinal match on Friday.

Flagg, a front-runner for National Player of the Year, has been instrumental in Duke’s journey this season. He leads the Blue Devils not only in scoring but also in rebounding, assists, and blocks. His performance has been crucial in securing the ACC title for Duke, along with a commendable 28-3 overall record this season. Flagg was just recently named the ACC’s Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. 

Adding to Duke’s injury woes, Maliq Brown, a junior forward, also suffered from what seemed like an aggravated shoulder injury during the same game against Georgia Tech. These incidents strike with Selection Sunday just around the corner, casting a shadow of uncertainty on the team’s roster.

Flagg’s injury and his potential unavailability for future games could impact Duke’s position as a prospective No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. In addition to Flagg’s irreplaceable skills, how this event affects him physically and emotionally remains a matter of concern. Even in a worst-case scenario, Duke is not left high and dry. If Flagg were to miss the entire NCAA tournament, the Blue Devils still have a lineup full of five-star prospects like freshman Kon Nnueppel, Khaman Maluach, and Tyrese Proctor. 

When Flagg’s injury occurred, there were a handful of sportsbooks that raised Duke’s odds to win the NCAA tournament from +300 to +700 and even +750. When Flagg was shown later in the game walking without a limp, most sportsbooks readjusted Duke’s pricing back to +300 to +350 at top sportsbooks.

Duke and Auburn share the top spot on most betting boards as the favorites to win the NCAA tournament. Houston and Florida, the other two expected No. 1 seeds in March Madness follow closely behind.

If Flagg can’t play in the NCAA tournament, he would become the fifth national player of the year to miss it. Gary Bradds (1963-46), Pete Maravich (1969-70), David Thompson (1974-75), and Kenyon Martin (1999-2000) were the others. 

ODDS TO WIN 2025 MARCH MADNESS

odds from BetUS.com

Duke +350

Auburn +350

Florida +700

Houston +700

Alabama +1100

Tennessee +1600

Michigan State +2000

St. John’s +2200

Iowa State +2500

Texas Tech +3000