Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] If you caught Duke’s dominant win over Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, you might’ve noticed something unusual with Cooper Flagg.
The standout freshman put up an impressive stat line—18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists—in Duke’s 89–66 blowout victory at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. But early in the game, Flagg was seen with a visibly swollen eye after taking some incidental contact while battling for a rebound just four minutes in.
At one point, he looked like he’d taken a punch in a boxing ring, struggling to keep the eye open. CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson later reported that Flagg was actually bleeding above the eye.
Despite the injury, the ACC Freshman of the Year powered through, shooting 5-of-11 from the field and hitting 7-of-9 from the line—including knocking down a lone three-pointer.
Flagg also had a solid showing in Duke’s first-round win over Mount St. Mary’s, scoring 14 points. On the season, he’s averaging 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game—living up to the hype and then some.