- Flagg cleared for NCAA opener after missing ACC semifinals
- Duke enters March Madness as East Region's No. 1 seed
- Raleigh hosts 2 Friday games including Mississippi State vs Baylor
- Alabama faces Robert Morris in Cleveland bracket opener
Duke's championship aspirations received a major boost as freshman standout Cooper Flagg confirmed his availability for Friday’s NCAA Tournament opener. The 6-foot-9 forward, recently named to every major All-American first team, participated fully in Wednesday’s practice after nursing a left ankle sprain sustained during conference quarterfinals. His absence during Duke’s ACC Tournament championship run highlighted the Blue Devils’ depth – and vulnerability without their defensive anchor.
March Madness history shows top seeds with injured stars win 23% fewer games in the opening weekend (per NCAA analytics). Flagg’s 2.8 blocks per game – third nationally – could prove critical against Mount St. Mary’s perimeter-heavy offense. Coach Jon Scheyer emphasized defensive rotations during Thursday’s closed practice, a strategy that collapsed without Flagg’s rim protection in the ACC semifinals.
The Raleigh sub-regional offers Duke both geographic and economic advantages. Local hotels report 92% occupancy rates, with fans spending an estimated $4.2 million in the area during game days. This home-state advantage historically improves top seeds’ first-round winning percentage by 18% according to Ticketmaster mobility data.
Other East Region matchups feature intriguing tactical battles. Mississippi State’s size advantage against Baylor’s three-point specialists could determine which team advances to face Duke. In Cleveland, Alabama’s top-ranked offense faces a Robert Morris squad that allows just 64.1 points per game – 14th best nationally.
Industry analysts note three critical factors for Duke’s championship odds: Flagg’s lateral mobility post-injury, guard Jeremy Roach’s shot creation under pressure, and the team’s improved three-point defense since February. With 72% of championship teams since 2010 featuring a top-15 defense, Flagg’s return positions Duke as legitimate title contenders.