Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Guard After Capturing ACC Crown: 'Two Down, One to Go'

Kon Knueppel joined Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer on the list of conference tournament MVPs.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball guard Kon Knueppel
Duke basketball guard Kon Knueppel / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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Entering the 73-62 Duke basketball win over Louisville in Saturday night's ACC Tournament finale, freshman sensation Kon Knueppel was the frontrunner to secure the MVP award in Charlotte's Spectrum Center after leading the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils (31-3) in the scoring column against Georgia Tech in the quarterfinals and UNC in the semifinals.

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And Knueppel didn't disappoint versus the Cardinals. The 19-year-old Wisconsin native helped power Duke as its ACC Player of the Year, rookie phenom Cooper Flagg (ankle), and key bench weapon, junior forward Maliq Brown (shoulder), remained out of commission.

Knueppel finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals across his team-high 38 minutes on the floor against Louisville. He shot 6-for-12 from the field and 6-for-6 at the charity stripe, and the Blue Devils bumped the program's record ACC Tournament title count to 23.

But during the trophy presentation, including his MVP recognition, Knueppel pointed out to ESPN that Blue Devil eyes are now fixed on the ultimate prize as they await their announced NCAA Tournament path via the March Madness Selection Show at 6 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS).

"I mean, we've got two down and one to go," Knueppel said with a smile, referring to the high-powered Duke basketball squad's ACC regular season success, conference tournament title, and sights on what would be the program's sixth national championship.

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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