Duke’s championship dreams have a familiar villain—bad luck, striking when it matters most. One year, it’s Kyrie Irving (2010-11) missing nearly the entire season before returning in March, only for Duke to fall in the Sweet 16. Another, it’s Zion Williamson’s (2018-19) shoe explosion forcing him out with a knee sprain, shaking Duke’s momentum before an Elite Eight exit. Even Jason Williams (2001-02) wasn’t spared—his ankle injury in 2002 played a part in a stunning loss to Indiana. Now in 2025, the Blue Devils felt the prickle with Cooper Flagg. But Jon Scheyer had plans in place to ensure Duke isn’t staring down the same old path.
After missing two games at the ACC Tournament, the freshman sensation was back for the Round of 64 game against Mount St. Mary’s as promised. He’d play 22 minutes– limited but effective. However, the real one at task here was Jon Scheyer. Given the dominant 93-49 victory, it might not have needed as much assistance as keeping an eye on Flagg did.
“The biggest thing for me was, you know, him not pacing. I didn’t want him to pace, and then obviously making sure he was moving, you know, where he wasn’t off-balance or favoring one leg or the other,” he revealed in the post-game conference. “I was just making sure he wasn’t pacing, and obviously, you know, able to give him a few extra minutes. I’m sure that’s only helpful for Sunday. So as it got down in the second half, my thing was to try to limit his minutes as much as possible.”
Playing 22 minutes, Flagg checked out for the final time with 10:53 remaining and Duke up by 32. From there, he was all smiles on the bench—laughing, hopping around, and cheering on his teammates as they closed out the game. If anyone was worried about his ankle, Flagg’s body language told a different story.
“We were ready for him to play more,” Scheyer said. “But I think the way it worked out obviously was really good.”
The injury itself was a freak accident—Flagg rolled his ankle in the ACC quarterfinals after stepping on a Georgia Tech player’s foot while coming down for a rebound. Just moments earlier, Duke had lost Maliq Brown to a shoulder injury. The timing was brutal, but Flagg didn’t let it define him. He still climbed the ladder to cut down the nets after Duke’s ACC Tournament victory, and he spent the following days rehabbing aggressively—including running on an underwater treadmill.
By Thursday, Flagg was back to full-speed practices. By Friday, he was on the court, doing what he does best.
Jan 14, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils players wait to enter the game during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
Even in limited minutes, Flagg flashed his star power. He finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, shooting 6-of-12 from the field. He looked comfortable early, muscling in an and-1 layup and later cutting backdoor for a dunk off a slick Patrick Ngongba feed.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one shining. Tyrese Proctor led all scorers with 19 points, drilling six of his eight three-point attempts. As a team, Duke played nearly flawless basketball—shooting 50% from the field, knocking down 14 threes, and recording just two turnovers while racking up 21 assists. That’s a staggering 10.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, the best in Duke’s NCAA Tournament history.
“I just thought these guys were incredibly mature without necessarily even playing in the NCAA Tournament besides Tyrese and Mason (Gillis),” Scheyer said. “Proud of the performance. We have to move on very quickly, but really good to get our feet wet and understand what the tournament is all about.”
The stakes are high, and the questions about Flagg’s health won’t go away just yet. But if Scheyer has his way, this Duke squad won’t be another footnote in the program’s long history of March heartbreak—it’ll be the team that broke the curse.
Next up? A second-round clash with ninth-seeded Baylor, featuring a familiar face in former Duke guard Jeremy Roach. A reunion, a rivalry, and a shot at the Sweet 16—this matchup has all the ingredients for a March classic.
Duke vs. Baylor: Flagg leads Blue Devils’ Sweet 16 push, but can Baylor bring the chaos?
Duke enters as the No. 1 seed in the East, but seeding means little in a tournament built on unpredictability. Baylor, a battle-tested No. 9 seed, has the experience and toughness to turn this into a thriller. On paper, the Blue Devils hold the edge, but March Madness isn’t played on paper, and Baylor is more than capable of delivering a surprise.
The Blue Devils enter this matchup riding a wave of dominance. Plus, Flagg’s absence hasn’t affected his output much. After Friday’s performance he continues to lead Duke averaging 18.9 points on 48.8% shooting. If Proctor’s performance and Kon Knueppel’s stepping up moments have been any indication, Duke’s offense is locked in.
Baylor, on the other hand, survived a gritty first-round battle against Mississippi State, escaping with a 75-72 victory. Their road to this point has been anything but smooth, with losses to Texas Tech and Houston in their last five games. However, Norchad Omier, their leading scorer (15.9 PPG) shooting 56.7% from the field, has been one to watch out for. His ability to battle on the boards will be crucial against the tallest team in the country.
Statistically, Duke has a clear edge in multiple areas. The Blue Devils boast a top-10 defense, holding opponents to just 38.4% shooting from the field. Baylor, in contrast, ranks 171st in field goal percentage (44.8%), meaning they will need to create high-quality looks to stay competitive. Duke also dominates the rebounding battle, ranking 12th in total rebounds compared to Baylor’s 116th. If Baylor cannot control the glass, second-chance opportunities could prove to be their downfall.
One potential X-factor is the battle from beyond the arc. Duke’s perimeter defense has been excellent, holding opponents to just 30.4% shooting from deep. Baylor, however, has capable shooters who can heat up quickly. Jeremy Roach, a former Blue Devil now in Baylor colors, also holds a possibility in exploiting any weaknesses in Scheyer’s game plan.
If Flagg plays at full strength and Duke dictates the pace, they should be in control. But if Baylor turns this into a dogfight and keeps it close late, the ghosts of March upsets past could creep into the equation. Either way, expect a compelling battle with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
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