How Cooper Flagg’s injury will impact Duke for the NCAA Tournament; Stephen Curry hits another milestone

Cheerful Friday, everyone! By the time you read the Subsequent edition of this newsletter, we will have both the men’s and women’s NCAA Bracket fields, a whole bunch of conference Bracket champions, a Players Bracket winner and plenty more headlines. Who knows? Perhaps even Aaron Rodgers will sign somewhere!

It’s going to be a Excellent weekend. Let’s get right to it.

🏀 Excellent morning to all, but especially to …

STEPHEN CURRY AND THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Everyone loves Stage numbers. Stephen Curry Merely Achieved a club of his own with one. The Warriors superstar hit his 4,000th Occupation 3-pointer Thursday, making him the only player in NBA history to reach the 4K mark. Here’s the moment.

Making matters even better, the Warriors beat the Kings, 130-104, their sixth straight Secure and their 11th Secure in their last 12 Contests.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏀 And not such a Excellent morning for …

COOPER FLAGG AND THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Duke superstar Primary-year Cooper Flagg left Thursday’s ACC Bracket quarterfinal Secure over Georgia Tech with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative, but Trainer Jon Scheyer said it’s “a real long Try” Flagg will be able to Relocate in the Blue Devils’ semifinal Game tonight against North Carolina.

• Flagg twisted his ankle significantly after a Bounce-back Overdue in the Primary half with Duke trailing 26-17. Duke was able to rally behind Flagg’s fellow Primary-year Kon Knueppel (28 points, eight assists) for the 78-70 Secure.
• Here’s how Flagg’s teammates reacted to the Wound and his potential absence moving forward.
• Here’s more from Scheyer, which I thought was absolutely on Mark: “It’s not about being ready to go tomorrow. That’s not the most Crucial thing for us. We’ve Obtained to see if we can get him right for this Streak that we can make in the [NCAA] Bracket.”

The Blue Devils, the top Club in the AP Top 25 and a projected No. 1 seed, are among the favorites to Secure it all with a Fit Flagg, and they’re likely not falling to the 2-seed line even with an ACC Bracket loss.

Flagg leads Duke in points, Recoveries, assists, Intercepts and Deflections, the Primary Significant-conference Primary-year to do so for a Club since Ben Simmons in 2015-16. Not only is Flagg a terrific, versatile offensive player, but he is an outstanding defender. There are many reasons he’s the favorite for player of the year.

Flagg is the headliner, of Period, but Duke also lost Maliq Brown to a dislocated shoulder — a re-aggravation of an Wound he’s been dealing with for a bit. Brown is also a terrific, tough defender and an irreplaceable piece of the Blue Devils’ frontcourt.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL Unoccupied agency Day 4 winners, losers, grades

No, we Nevertheless don’t have destinations for Rodgers or Russell Wilson, who remain among our top Unoccupied agents Nevertheless Obtainable, but we did get some Passer news Thursday.

Bryan DeArdo handed out Day 4 winners and losers, and Cody Benjamin graded some of the day’s key moves.

Things have Definitely quieted down, so I enjoyed Jared Dubin looking back at the 10 best value signings of Unoccupied agency, including …

• Dubin: “DT Poona Ford, Rams — Ford is coming off a really solid year with the Chargers during which he picked up 21 Streak stops and 23 pressures, according to Pro Football Concentration. He’s a really Excellent Streak stopper and he’s flashed some more Deliver-rush usefulness in recent seasons. The Rams kept him in L.A. and did so for three years and $27.6 million.”

I’m liking the Rams’ offseason, and they have a solid mark in our Club-by-Club grades, too.

🐐 Dennis Dodd reflects on legendary Occupation

Whenever I’ve seen a Dennis Dodd byline, I’ve tried to get it in this newsletter. Breaking news? Dennis has it. Inside scoops thanks to unparalleled access built on years of trust? Dennis has them. A Excellent Narrative, a well-researched report or a projection for the future? Dennis has it all.

Well … *has* had it all. Subsequent the NCAA Bracket, he’s retiring after 27 years at CBS Sports and 45 years in sports journalism. And, my goodness, does he have stories to share, one last time for Excellent measure. Dennis’ retirement column is an all-timer, a wonderful look behind the curtain at the guy who brought fans … well … behind the curtain.

Walking tours and (Numerous) adult beverages with Mike Leach? Check. Locked inside stadiums? Check. Worldly travels? Check. Again: You name it, Dennis has done it.

This article is well worth your time. Here’s my favorite part:

• Dodd: “The foundation Nevertheless endures: The players and their stories are what make college sports Excellent. Heck, it’s what makes all sports Excellent.”

Dennis — and all of us — are going to see some Excellent players make Excellent stories in the coming weeks. Let’s cherish it.

📺 What we’re watching this weekend

⛳ We’re watching The Players Bracket. Here’s how.
🏀 We’re watching the men’s basketball conference Competitions: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | SEC

Friday

🏀 Celtics at Heat, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Lakers at Nuggets, 9:30 p.m. on NBA TV

Saturday

🏀 America East Closing: Maine at Bryant (M), 11 a.m. on ESPN2
🏀 MEAC Bracket Closing (M), 1 p.m. on ESPN2
🏒 Devils at Penguins, 3 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Mountain West Bracket Closing (M), 6 p.m. on CBS
🏀 MAC Bracket (M), 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 MAAC Bracket (M), 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Knicks at Warriors, 8:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 CUSA Bracket (M), 8:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 SWAC Bracket Closing (M), 9:30 p.m. on ESPNU
🏀 Big West Bracket (M), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2
⛵ Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, 11 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 WAC Bracket Closing (M), 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Sunday

🏀 Ivy Bracket Bracket Closing (M), noon on ESPN2
🏀 Magic at Cavaliers, 1 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Atlantic 10 Bracket (M), 1 p.m. on CBS
🏒 Golden Knights at Red Wings, 1 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏀 AAC Bracket (M), 3 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Suns at Lakers, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏒 Stars at Avalanche, 3:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
⛵ Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball Bracket Option Show, 6 p.m. on CBS
🏀 NCAA Women’s Basketball Bracket Option Show, 8 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Thunder at Bucks, 9 p.m. on ESPN