As expected, Duke University made it to the NCAA men's basketball tournament after defeating its bitter rival, the University of North Carolina, in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) semifinal game on Friday and then downing the University of Louisville on Saturday to clinch the conference title.

It is the No. 1 seed in the East Region, and it will face the winner of the play-in round game between American and Mount St. Mary's.

Freshman star Cooper Flagg didn't play on either Friday or Saturday due to an ankle injury, but he's expected to be available once the tournament starts. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas made it clear during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" that he thinks very highly of Flagg.

"I think he's the best and most complete freshman that Duke's ever had," Bilas said. "He'll be the No. 1 pick. He's special. He's got an aptitude for the game that you don't see very often."

Going back to a year ago when he was a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida, Flagg has been widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, assuming he declares himself eligible. The 6-foot-9 forward is a fluid scorer who has the athleticism to do lots of damage in the open court, and he is also an adept passer and a promising defender.

He has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals a game this season for the Blue Devils. Some scouts and experts have compared him to Scottie Pippen, the versatile, athletic Hall of Famer who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s and is considered one of the greatest defensive players in basketball history.