Duke's Cooper Flagg out vs. UNC in ACC tournament semifinal after ankle sprain

As expected, Duke will be facing rival UNC shorthanded in the ACC tournament.

Likely NBA No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg has been ruled out for the Blue Devils' semifinal game on Friday with an ankle injury, the program announced. Forward Maliq Brown is also out with a shoulder issue.

[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K]

Flagg sustained the injury in question in Duke's quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech. He landed on another player's foot after jumping for a rebound and immediately hit the floor in pain. He was later seen being transported in a wheelchair for imaging.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer told reporters after the game Flagg had sustained an ankle sprain and was unlikely to play again in the ACC tournament. The team still hopes he will be able to play in the NCAA Tournament, which starts next week.

Flagg, the favorite for National Player of the Year honors, posted 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks in Duke's win over the Tar Heels last week. In his first game against them, he had 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks.

His absence will leave Duke in need of someone to step up, against both UNC and the winner of the other semifinal game between Louisville and Clemson. As Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor laid out, the most likely players to do so would be fellow freshmen Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Isaiah Evans, all of whom could help their draft stock with a big game without help from Flagg.