• The Hogs fought valiantly to get back into their second-round game against the Rebels, but they ultimately came up short after two missed free throws in the waning seconds and then the 3-pointer by Pedulla.
• Coach Cal’s team will have a nervous few days as the Hogs are firmly on the NCAA tournament bubble.
• The Rebels got a rebound on a missed free throw with 7.9 seconds left in a tie game and guard Sean Pedulla drilled the game-winning 3:
• The Cougars’ torrid run continues. That’s their ninth consecutive win and advances them to the Big 12 semifinals, where they’ll play the winner of Colorado vs. Houston.
• Meanwhile, we have a shootout between Iowa State and BYU. The Cyclones are projected to be a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament while the Cougars are likely looking at a No. 5 seed.
• The Red Storm are as hot as any team in the country as we near March Madness. They’ve only lost one game in 2025 and rolled right through Butler in their Big East tournament opener.

St. John’s is playing at a high level, just rolled past Butler by 21, 78-57 at first round of Big East tournament. Big East POY Rj Luis gets 20 and lock down defense paves the way.

— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) March 13, 2025

• Per John Ewing of BetMGM, Duke was the most-bet team on Thursday as a 23.5-point favorite. The Blue Devils won by eight after Cooper Flagg’s first-half injury.
• The Blue Devils got more than they bargained for in their ACC tournament opener, but they survived and will face the winner of Wake Forest-North Carolina on Friday.
• The bigger question is the severity of Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury and how long he’ll be out.
• The Blue Devils are firing on all cylinders now. After an alley-oop from Kon Knueppel to Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans drilled a 3-pointer to push Duke’s lead to double digits.
• The Yellow Jackets stopped the bleeding and are still hanging in there after Duke’s blitz out of the break.
• The Blue Devils are shooting the ball much better in the second half after missing their first 13 3-point attempts and going 36.7% from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in on-court action, the Blue Devils scored the first 12 points out of the locker room and have taken the lead early in the second half. Kon Knueppel and Sion James hit 3s as Duke is finally finding the mark from deep.
• That’s one way to respond after losing your star player.

Cooper Flagg has emerged from the Hornets X-ray room, still in a wheelchair. His left ankle is heavily swollen.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) March 13, 2025

Injury updates: Maliq Brown (left shoulder) – out

Cooper Flagg (left ankle) – doubtful to return

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 13, 2025

• The ESPN broadcast is now showing Cooper Flagg off his feet, being wheeled in a wheelchair to get examined:
• The Blue Devils cut into the GT lead late in the half, but the bigger concern is the health of Cooper Flagg. He had to be helped into the locker room just before the break.
• Flagg headed to the Duke bench after he blocked Duncan Powell’s layup attempt late in the first half.
• After Flagg denied Powell at the rim, the Blue Devils transitioned up court and Isaiah Evans nailed Duke’s first three-pointer of the game.
• Flagg would need assistance as he headed back to Duke’s locker room with the first half coming to a close.
• With 3:56 left in the first half, Georgia Tech is up 26-12 and Duke’s poor shooting is the story.
• The Blue Devils are 26% from the field and 0-for-13 from 3-point range. Cooper Flagg has just two points on 1-of-3 shooting.
• Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo and Duncan Powell lead all players with nine points.
• The Red Storm have stormed out to an 18-3 lead against the Bulldogs through the opening eight minutes.
• RJ Luis leads all players with 8 points, while Kadary Richmond, who recorded the program’s first triple-double since 1999 over the weekend, has 5 points.