Duke basketball fans, the NCAA and the executives at Warner Bros. Discovery can all rejoice. Cooper Flagg should be available to participate in the March Madness festivities, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The Blue Devils sensation and consensus top pick in June's NBA Draft sprained his ankle after securing a rebound in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament and was ruled out for the team's last two games. There was hope that Duke was being cautious more than anything, and this early NCAA Tournament injury update might indicate as much.

Flagg's expected presence adds substantial star power to the 68-team bracket and greatly enhances the Blue Devils' championship aspirations. Although the squad survived North Carolina in the ACC semifinals on Friday night, and did so in dramatic fashion, it looked completely out of sorts in the second half. A 24-point lead evaporated before Duke's eyes, illustrating how important the 18-year-old is to the offense.

That is obviously not a surprise, considering Flagg is the Wooden Award favorite, but it is still worth noting. Even with the Blue Devils' profusion of talent, their NCAA Tournament floor could be volatile without their top player. Fortunately, barring an unforeseen setback, head coach Jon Scheyer will not have to ponder that scary scenario.

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Will Flagg lead Duke back to the mountaintop?

A capable Cooper Flagg has the potential to wreak havoc on the rest of the field. He has admittedly stumbled in big spots in marquee matchups during the 2024-25 season, but the 6-foot-9 forward often displays poise beyond his years. If he can keep his footing in those tense moments, while also avoiding lingering effects of his ankle injury, Duke basketball has a chance to win their first national championship of this decade.

Those are two crucial “ifs,” but fans will take that uncertainty over the alternative. In a program rich with history, Cooper Flagg is enjoying one of the most impressive freshman seasons that Durham, North Carolina has ever witnessed. He is averaging just under 19 points per contest to go with 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks and a 48.8 field goal percentage. The Newport, Maine native is a two-way force that will draw many eyeballs to the television screen.

Before Flagg takes center stage in the NCAA Tournament on either March 20 or March 21, he will watch his teammates battle Louisville for the ACC Championship on Saturday, starting at 8:30 p.m. ET.