Duke forward Cooper Flagg dunks during the first half of the Blue Devils’ 89-66 win over Baylor in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Stephanie Scarborough/Associated Press

Turns out, the ankle’s looking pretty good.

After missing the last two games of the ACC tournament due to a sprained ankle, Cooper Flagg quickly dispelled any fears about how much the injury would hold him back in the NCAA tournament, returning in Duke’s first-round matchup and leading the top-ranked Blue Devils to the Sweet Sixteen with a pair of victories over Mount St. Mary’s and Baylor.

Duke’s back in the third round for the second straight year and fifth time in seven tournaments. A win Thursday would send the Blue Devils (33-3) back to the Elite Eight, where they fell last year to North Carolina State.

Last week

After a period of speculation about how effective Flagg would be, the Newport native returned to the Blue Devils’ lineup and looked at full strength from the opening tip. The consensus All-American and Wooden Award candidate played 22 minutes of Duke’s 93-49 win, scoring 14 points on 50% shooting while grabbing seven rebounds with five assists.

While the rest of the country wondered how the ankle would hold up, Flagg had no concerns.

“I’ve done a great job with the medical staff preparing and just being ready,” he said. “We just put a plan in place. We have phases, a strategy of just getting back, getting prepared, and being ready. So we just followed it step by step. … I already felt completely 100% and confident going into tonight’s game.”

Duke forward Cooper Flagg backs down Mount St. Mary’s guard Xavier Lipscomb during the first half of the Blue Devils’ 93-49 win in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Flagg, a Newport native, finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press

Duke coach Jon Scheyer said Flagg was able to play more than his 22 minutes if the team needed him.

“I think the way it worked out obviously was really good,” Scheyer said. “But we were prepared for him to play as many minutes as he needed to.”

Flagg was again front and center in the 89-66 win over Baylor, scoring 18 points with nine rebounds and six assists. The game was played in front of a large contingent of Duke fans in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Flagg gave them a highlight by rising for an alley-oop dunk that put the Blue Devils up 45-30 in the final minute of the first half.

“I think just getting downhill, getting in the paint is when good things happen all around,” said Flagg, who also dealt with a swollen eye after getting hit under the basket. “So whether it’s kicking out for 3s or getting fouled. That’s definitely something we emphasize going into every game, just getting in the paint and trying to make plays.”

This week

Thursday
Opponent: Arizona
Time: 9:39 p.m.
TV: CBS

Noteworthy: The scene shifts to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where top seed Duke will play fourth seed Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen. The Wildcats advanced to the third round by beating No. 13 Akron, 93-65, and No. 5 Oregon, 87-83.

Arizona, like Duke, is in the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four years, and is seeking its first Elite Eight trip since 2015, and 12th overall. The Wildcats are led by Caleb Love, who averaged 16.8 points during the season and had 29 in the four-point win over the Ducks.

Duke beat Arizona, 69-55, on Nov. 22.

Saturday/Sunday (with win over Arizona)
Opponent: BYU/Alabama
Time: TBD
TV: TBD

Noteworthy: If the Blue Devils beat the Wildcats, they’ll draw either No. 6 BYU or No. 2 Alabama. The Cougars beat No. 11 VCU and then upset No. 3 Wisconsin to reach the Sweet Sixteen, while Alabama took down No. 15 Robert Morris and No. 7 Saint Mary’s.

Duke did not play either team during the regular season.