With the NCAA Tournament approaching, much of the conversation has centered around freshman sensation Cooper Flagg and his health after spraining his ankle in the ACC Tournament, causing him to miss the final two games, which Duke went on to win.
On Tuesday, former legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski shared his thoughts on how the Blue Devils responded and played without Flagg during an episode of his podcast, “Basketball & Beyond with Coach K.” Krzyzewski didn’t hesitate to highlight fellow freshman Kon Knueppel as a key reason for that success, stating that Knueppel was not only the second-best player on the Blue Devils but also the second-best player in the entire ACC.
“I think it showed the world how good Kon Knueppel is, which I’ve been saying all year.I can’t believe he’s not first-team all-conference. Outside of Flagg, the next best player in the [ACC] is Kon Knueppel. I really love that kid—his ability to get the loose ball, grab offensive rebounds, or get on the floor is incredible. He can really shoot it, he’s tough, plays defense, and I think he showed out even more.”
Kon Knueppel has flown under the radar for the Blue Devils all season, often overshadowed by the greatness of Cooper Flagg and his extraordinary accomplishments.
However, Knueppel has been a vital piece of the puzzle, contributing significantly to Duke’s success. His efforts have helped the team not only reach 30 wins and secure a No. 1 seed in March Madness, but also claim the ACC regular season and conference tournament championships.
Entering the tournament, Knueppel is averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, while shooting 39.2% from beyond the arc and an impressive 91.4% from the free-throw line. He scored 18 points against Louisville in the ACC Championship and 17 points against North Carolina in the semifinals.
