Cooper Flagg played only 22 minutes in Duke’s 93-49 win over Mount St. Mary’s in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
It was Flagg’s first action after missing time due to an ankle injury he suffered early in the ACC Tournament. Flagg came into the game feeling 100 percent healthy, though, and afterward, he reported no more issues.
He only played 22 minutes because Duke didn’t need him to play more. Had the Blue Devils needed him to put in a full effort, though, head coach Jon Scheyer believes he would have and could have done it.
“We were ready for him to play more, but I think the way it worked out obviously was really good,” Scheyer said, according to David Hale of ESPN. “But we were prepared for him to play as many minutes as he needed to.”Even better for the Blue Devils is that Flagg isn’t expecting to have to undergo any special treatment ahead of Duke’s second-round game against Baylor on Sunday afternoon.
Everything has gone exactly the way he and the training staff had hoped it would.
“We just put a plan in place,” Flagg said. “We have phases, a strategy of just getting back, getting prepared and being ready.”
Flagg was ready. Even in just 22 minutes, he notched 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Flagg and the Blue Devils will likely be tested just a bit more by 9-seed Baylor. The Bears beat 8-seed Mississippi State, 75-72, in the first round.
