Duke’s March Madness run rolls on. They absolutely crushed Mount St. Mary’s and are headed to the Round of 32. But that wasn’t the only good news for Duke fans tonight. Before the game, they got to witness the sight of Cooper Flagg warming up and getting ready to start after missing the last few games with injury. But as the game went on and the win seemed certain, frustration began to build. But why?

Flagg twisted his ankle while grabbing a rebound against Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament quarterfinals. He was helped off the court in a wheelchair for tests but returned to sit on the bench in the second half. Which offered hope to the Duke faithful. But coach Jon Scheyer wasn’t ready to take risks and Flagg missed the next two games. The “Maine event” was cleared to play in their big dance opener. And his minutes were a source of frustration among the fans.

With the game against Mount St. Mary’s pretty much decided in the first half, Flagg was still seen playing in the second half, causing frustration among many Duke fans. Why risk a player who just came back from an injury? Fans took to social media to voice their frustrations. Let’s take a look at some of their takes.

Fans fume with Jon Scheyer’s handling of Cooper Flagg

Fans weren’t shy about expressing their frustration with Flagg staying on the court. One fan took to X asking, “Cooper Flagg night should be over with. Time to get ready for Baylor.” Another joined in, saying, “GET COOPER FLAGG OUT OF THE GAME! @DukeMBB.”

Fans’ concerns were valid. Flagg missed the last two games, and there was no guarantee he’d play tonight.. But he was medically cleared to play and he was under minutes restriction. Flagg who has averaged close to 30 minutes a game this season played only 22 minutes according to ESPN. While fans were anxious, it was clear Jon Scheyer wasn’t pushing him. The minutes restriction was in place, and he was being handled with care.

But that didn’t stop fans from questioning Scheyer’s decisions. One fan asked, “Why is Cooper Flagg still playing?” another fan joined in asking, “Why is Cooper Flagg still in this game? #MarchMadness #Duke”

Well, the answer lies in Flagg’s stat line. He finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in just 22 minutes. Flagg joined Paolo Banchero as the only Duke freshmen to post those numbers in a tournament game. It’s clear that Flagg’s presence makes a huge impact on this team.

While a few fans were unhappy with Flagg playing 22 minutes, most were thrilled to see him back and hitting the ground running. It looked like he hadn’t missed a beat on the court. With a crucial game against Baylor ahead in their pursuit of a 6th championship, Duke fans are definitely hoping Flagg keeps up his great form. Stay tuned for more updates!