Underdog Cooper Flagg in doubt for semifinal clash against ACC foe UNC on Friday due to ankle injury
Here's a rewritten version of the article with a more casual tone, integrated insights, better structure, and varied sentence structure:
A Setback for Duke's Star Forward Cooper Flagg 🏀💔
Duke's star forward Cooper Flagg is fighting against the clock after a twisted ankle brought his game to a halt in the first half of the Blue Devils' thrilling 78-70 victory over Georgia Tech. 😞
Duke's head honcho, Jon Scheyer, revealed to reporters that Flagg suffered a sprain in his ankle but fortunately, the X-rays came back negative. 👍
Before the second half began, Flagg was spotted making his way to the sidelines in a wheelchair, putting a damper on the team's momentum. 😰
The projected top #1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft hit the floor clutching his left ankle with 2:46 left on the clock in the first half. It seems he rolled his ankle while jumping for a rebound. 🏀💆
His teammates lent him a hand getting up, but Flagg hobbled off the court under his own steam.
"I already know what kind of player [Flagg] is," Scheyer said after the game. "To be honest with you, I'd need to hear it from everybody in the locker room - I'd have to be convinced, really convinced - that he should play. It's not worth it. It just isn't." 👉🏻🎗️
"It's not about being ready to go tomorrow (Friday). The most important thing for us is to get him right for our run in the (NCAA) tournament." 🏆
Last night's injury scare came as the Blue Devils were trailing 26-17 and following an earlier loss to Maliq Brown due to a re-dislocated shoulder. 😨
"We've got each other's backs. Obviously, 'Coop' [Flagg] is a big part of our team, but it's 'next man up,' and we're going to keep lifting one another," freshman Isaiah Evans shared about the team's resilience. 🤝💪
"I think it shows that we're a team, not just about one or two people. It's all about Duke." 🇸
Despite facing a 14-point deficit - their largest comeback this season - the Blue Devils rallied with grit and determination to beat Georgia Tech in the quarterfinal. 🔥👊
Next up, Duke takes on arch-rival North Carolina on Friday at 7p ET in the ACC Tournament semifinal. 📅🏆
Let's hope for a speedy recovery for Cooper Flagg and another victory for the mighty Blue Devils! 🤞💪🏀💛😃
- Cooper Flagg, the projected top pick for the 2025 NBA draft, might have found his love for a particular sport altering, as he sprained his ankle during a game, causing him to miss the second half.
- Isaiah Evans, a freshman for Duke, expressed support for his injured teammate Cooper Flagg, stating that it's 'next man up' and they will keep supporting each other, emphasizing their team spirit.
- In 2025, when Cooper Flagg is set to make his professional debut, he might need to adapt his sporting style a bit, given the setbacks he's experienced during college games, like the twisted ankle incident that happened this season.
