Duke coach Jon Scheyer told ESPN that the goal is for star freshman Cooper Flagg to play in Friday's first-round game following his ankle injury.

Duke superstar freshman Cooper Flagg is "full steam ahead" to return on Friday for his team's opening NCAA Tournament game vs. the winner of the First Four matchup between No. 16 seeds Mount St. Mary's and American,

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 Men’s March Madness Selection Show Despite spraining his left ankle in Duke’s ACC Tournament opener Thursday, Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg — a frontrunner for National Player of the Year — will be available for the NCAA Tournament,

The No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils, after winning the ACC championship, are the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament East Region, which means starting its expected run to the Final Four close to home.

The Tar Heels, who hold a 1-12 record against Quad 1 teams this season, earned a bid despite a poor showing against the country’s top teams.

North Carolina was very much on the NCAA tournament bubble last week and projected by many to miss the field when it fell short of the ACC championship game in a heartbreaking semifinal loss to Duke.

North Carolina is headed to the 2025 NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed and part of the First Four in Dayton after narrowly sneaking in following a disappointing season. Gaining admission to the Big Dance should alleviate some of the heartbreak the Tar Heels felt following a heartbreaking loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals.