One team rides a wave of conference dominance, sitting atop the standings with a dominant 15-1 conference record and a 24-3 overall mark. The other is stuck in a tough stretch, sitting at 2-14 in the ACC and 6-21 overall, struggling to find any momentum. On paper, tomorrow’s matchup between Cooper Flagg’s Duke squad and a Miami team on a five-game skid looks like a mismatch.

But if college basketball has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. Records don’t mean much once the game starts, and upsets happen when you least expect them. Until the final buzzer sounds, anything is possible. So one should grab their seats for Flagg’s next test—5:30 AM ET on February 26, 2025, at Miami—which is so spicy. Yeah, you read that right. 5:30 AM. 

Cooper Flagg’s Duke vs Miami: Projected starting lineups & Injury updates

Duke coach Jon Scheyer had high hopes for Maliq Brown’s recovery from his dislocated shoulder just a few days ago, but as of the Duke vs. Illinois game, Brown still hasn’t made his way back onto the court. The 6-foot-9 junior, who’s been sidelined since injuring his left arm against Virginia, leaves his return for the rest of the conference schedule uncertain.

Scheyer mentioned that Brown’s main hurdle was getting his stability back, and he originally expected him to be back in a few weeks. However, Brown’s continued absence suggests his recovery might be taking longer than anyone thought. With just a few regular-season games left, the Blue Devils are now waiting on more details about when—or if—Brown can return.

Brown’s ability to guard multiple positions off the bench has been a real asset for Duke, and having him back could really boost their play in these final games. For now, everyone’s watching the injury report closely, hoping for some positive news soon.

And it’s not just Duke dealing with injuries. The Hurricanes are equally, if not more, hit hard. Nijel Pack is out indefinitely with a foot injury and hasn’t played in over a month. Freshman Divine Ugochukwu, who had once battled through an injury in January, made a solid comeback and is continuing without any more injuries at the conference.

So, the projected starting lineup goes as:

Duke Blue:

• PG (Point Guard): Tyrese Proctor (#5)
• SG (Shooting Guard): Kon Knueppel (#7)
• SF (Small Forward): Sion James (#14)
• PF (Power Forward): Cooper Flagg (#2)
• C (Center): Khaman Maluach (#9)

Miami Hurricanes:

• PG (Point Guard): Lynn Kidd (#1)
• SG (Shooting Guard): Jalil Bethea (#3)
• SF (Small Forward): Brandon Johnson (#2)
• PF (Power Forward): A.J. Staton-McCray (#11)
• C (Center): Divine Ugochukwu (#99)

It looks like ESPN Analytics has Duke as the heavy favorite with a 95.7% chance to win against Miami, who only have a 4.3% shot. It should be an exciting game, but all signs point to Duke coming out on top for 10 seconds.

According to ESPN Analytics, Duke’s Blue Devils are clear favorites, boasting about a 95.7% chance to win against the Miami Hurricanes, who only have a 4.3% shot. It’s going to be a thrilling game!

Game-Changer on the Court: Flagg’s Freshman Phenomenon

Cooper Flagg isn’t just having a good freshman season. He’s putting together a year that feels like a video game cheat code. At 6’9”, the Duke phenom isn’t just leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists—he’s doing it while carrying the weight of being called the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. And guess what? He’s still technically supposed to be in high school.

Flagg’s stats are wild. Through 27 games, he’s averaging 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 48% from the field. But numbers don’t tell the full story. His game is all about impact. Take Duke’s recent 80-62 rout of Virginia: 17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Against Stanford? A casual 19 points, 5 boards, and 6 dimes. Even in a loss to Clemson, he dropped 18 points and 5 rebounds in 38 minutes. The kid doesn’t take nights off.

But here’s the kicker: Flagg isn’t just stat-padding. He’s elevating Duke into title contention. Former UNC rival Tyler Hansbrough—yes, the same Tyler Hansbrough who recently called Flagg a “game-changer,” stressed that Duke’s success hinges on his versatility. When a Tar Heel legend is singing your praises, you’re doing something right.

Still, the National Player of the Year race isn’t a coronation. Auburn’s Johni Broome—a 6’10” powerhouse averaging 21 and 11—is breathing down Flagg’s neck. Broome’s consistency and physicality make him a nightmare matchup, and voters love a big man who dominates the paint. Flagg’s case? He’s a forward leading his team in assists, guarding every position, and hitting threes at a 37% clip. It’s a clash of styles—old-school dominance vs. positionless basketball.

Flagg’s biggest hurdle might be his own hype. Expectations are sky-high, and every off night (like his 13-point, 6-turnover game vs. Miami) gets magnified. But here’s the thing: even his “bad” games are solid. He still grabbed 7 boards and dished 6 assists in that Miami matchup.

With March looming, Flagg has a chance to cement his legacy. If he keeps Duke rolling and shines in the ACC and NCAA tournaments, the Freshman of the Year debate might end early. But in a sport where every game matters, nothing’s guaranteed.