Duke shines without Flagg But a new star emerges

On Saturday night, Duke secured a commanding 73-62 victory over Louisville. This triumph earned them their second Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament championship in three seasons under head coach Jon Scheyer. A remarkable feat that was celebrated by the Blue Devils’ dedicated fans.

But this game delivered more than just a winning score and joy. With Cooper Flagg sidelined due to an ankle injury, other players had the chance to shine, proving that Duke’s talent runs deep, and that Scheyer knows how to lead his team to success.

Duke takes control

After the victory, a freshman from Duke was named the ACC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. However, to many people’s surprise, the name called wasn’t Cooper Flagg. Instead, another talented student-athlete took the spotlight.

Enter Kon Knueppel, who embraced a greater role and more responsibility in the Blue Devils’ wins. With Flagg missing significant parts of the tournament due to his ankle sprain, Knueppel seized the opportunity to make his mark.

Knueppel named MVP

Knueppel averaged 21 points on 48.7% shooting, along with 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists across three games. These impressive stats earned him the tournament MVP title. While Flagg remains Duke’s primary star, Blue Devils’ opponents would do well not to overlook the rising talent of Kon Knueppel.

His skills haven’t gone unnoticed—not even by his coach, Jon Scheyer, who stated, “He’s so steady and made a lot of winning plays.” Knueppel was instrumental in the tournament, scoring 28 points to lead Duke to a quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech. During that game, he stepped up after Flagg’s early exit in the first half.

“I was just trying to make the right play. With Cooper out, I knew I had to take on more of the load—play more minutes and contribute much more. So I just focused on being precise. Nothing flashy, nothing over-the-top,” Knueppel shared.

Depth of talent

While Cooper Flagg is regarded as one of Duke’s best, Knueppel is quickly proving he’s not far behind. Known as one of the team’s top scorers, Knueppel boasts a shooting accuracy over 40%. Even on an off night from beyond the arc, he makes free throws with ease.

Although his rise might surprise some, it’s no shock to Scheyer. Duke’s head coach recognizes what Knueppel brings to the team. “I saw his ability to create shots, and then I saw his defensive skill,” Scheyer explained. “And most importantly, I saw how competitive he is. I walked away thinking, ‘This kid belongs at Duke.’ From that moment, our staff went all-in to bring him here.”

Overall, Duke’s roster is stacked with talent. From starters to bench players, the Blue Devils are loaded with strategic assets committed to the game. Their opponents should keep an eye out because this team is likely to go all-in for their sixth NCAA national championship.