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Cooper Flaggs Dram -free return of injuries is good for Dukes National title hopes

Cooper Flaggs Dram -free return of injuries is good for Dukes National title hopes

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So much for every persistent concern about Cooper Flagg's left ankle.

The most famous newcomer to College basketball showed that he moved lively in the first minutes of his NCAA tournament debut.

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Ninety seconds after the demolition of Dukes 93-49 from Mount St. Mary's on Friday Tyrese Proctor tipped a lazy pass and triggered a two-to-one fast break for the Blue Devils. Flagg pulled a foul and ended the contact, with the collision spreading it onto the ground.

Just a few minutes later, flag backdoor cut, received a slick pass from Patrick Ngongba and threw down a high-flying two-hand slam. Flagg jogged again at the court and pointed to Ngongba and flashed an unpainting grin.

At halftime, Tracy Wolfson Flagg asked CBS Sideline Reporter how his ankle felt. Flagg confirmed what his game had already demonstrated and said Wolfson that the ankle was “great”.

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When Flagg was injured in the ACC quarter -finals eight days ago to achieve a rebound, he recalled memories of infamous March injuries on the ground that flinched with pain. Twenty years ago, Kenyon Martins broken right leg in the C-USA tournament No. 1 Cincinnatis was derailed national title hopes. Kendall Marshall's broken wrist during the NCAA tournament stated in 2011-12 North Carolina from a potential title shot. Houston Jamal Shead lost Sweet 16 in a poorly bricked right ankle against Duke last year.

Then reporters posted Flagg in a wheelchair in Charlotte Social Media Pictures to get X-rays. Was this another college basketball be?

The answer, as it turned out, was no. The X -rays were negative. Flagg returned to the Duke Bench without a hiking chair. While Duke trainer Jon Scheyer did not play flag again in the ACC tournament, Flagg scored an optimistic tone when he spoke to reporters with Mount St. Mary on the eve of the Duke Matchup.

“I am really confident of going 100 percent tomorrow,” he said.

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Flagg ended with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. He would have achieved even bigger numbers if Duke needed it. The blue devils with the top seeds, which were led with two figures after three minutes, half -time and up to 45 on the way to a fascinating matchup in the second round against the ninth seed Baylor.

The sight of Flagg, which moves like its normal self, is an encouraging sign for Duke's national title hopes. Flagg is the alleged No. 1 election in this year's NBA design and the favorite, which is appointed national player of the year of College basketball.

Without him, Duke was still able to win the ACC tournament. Back with him and healthy, the Blue Devils are prepared to aim at their first national title since 2015.

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