By ADAM ZAGORIA
Duke star Cooper Flagg narrowly avoided a serious eye injury in Duke’s 100-65 rout of Florida State on Saturday.
The presumed No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft was taken to the locker room in the first half after getting hit in the face a couple of times, including once where he was poked in the left eye and in serious pain.
Flagg finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in the win for the No. 2 Blue Devils (26-3, 17-1 ACC).
“I think as a basketball player, you don’t think about injuring your eye, that doesn’t cross your mind,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said post-game.
“So Cooper, I’ve never seen him look scared. He was scared at first, rightfully so because you don’t know how serious. Is it permanent, is it not? So I was really relieved when the medical team shared the news because I was really nervous about him.”
Cooper Flagg was taken to the locker room after getting hit in the face twice in the span of a couple minutes. The first one cut his face. The second time he was poked in the eye and in real pain.
Duke is already without Tyrese Proctor. pic.twitter.com/5mAr2vJzjq
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 2, 2025
Coach Scheyer said Cooper Flagg’s eyelid was scratched and his career ending injury came to mind. pic.twitter.com/TwT0WO7TJh
— Blue Devil Nation (@BlueDevilNation) March 2, 2025
Meantime, Duke’s Isaiah Evans tallied a team-high 19 points, followed by Flagg’s 16 points, and Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel scored 14 points each.
Duke scored 100 points for the fourth time this season and the third time in the last five games.
In Duke’s last five outings, the Blue Devils are averaging 98.6 points per contest, while limiting opponents to 64.8 points per game (+33.8).
Duke’s four 100-point showings are the most in a season since the 2009-10 Blue Devils also reached the century mark four times.
The Blue Devils are the projected No. 1 seed in the East Region, meaning Flagg and company would start the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. before advancing to the Prudential Center in Newark.
Photo: ESPN
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