The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils proved why they’re the top-ranked team in the country during the ACC tournament this week. After trailing in their first game on Wednesday against Georgia Tech, they lost freshman sensation and leader Cooper Flagg to an ankle sprain, as well as a shoulder injury to Maliq Brown.
Both players were sidelined for the remainder of the tournament, which included the second half of the Georgia Tech game, a matchup with rival North Carolina, and ultimately the championship game on Saturday night against a red-hot Louisville team.
Despite these setbacks, the Blue Devils rallied together, with others stepping up when needed most. They secured wins over all three opponents, becoming the first ACC team since 2018 to win both the regular-season conference title and the tournament championship in the same season.
A significant contributor to the team’s success was fellow freshman star Kon Knueppel, who has flown under the radar all season long. However, Knueppel earned the recognition he deserved when Duke and the ACC named him the tournament MVP after his stellar performance in the championship game against Louisville.
Throughout the tournament, Kon Knueppel put up impressive numbers, averaging 21.0 points on 18-for-37 shooting from the field, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. In the championship game against Louisville, he tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, leading the Blue Devils to a 73-62 win.
