Mike Krzyzewski Didn’t Hesitate to Name Duke’s Top Player Beyond Cooper Flagg

As the NCAA Tournament draws near, much of the focus has been on freshman standout Cooper Flagg and concerns over his ankle injury, which caused him to miss the last two games of the ACC Tournament. Despite that, Duke went on to win those games.

On Tuesday, former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski shared his perspective on how the Blue Devils performed without Flagg in an episode of his podcast, “Basketball & Beyond with Coach K.”

Krzyzewski quickly pointed out fellow freshman Kon Knueppel as a crucial factor in that success. He emphasized that Knueppel wasn’t just the second-best player on the Blue Devils but also the second-best in the entire ACC.

“I think it really showcased how talented Kon Knueppel is, which I’ve been saying all season,” Krzyzewski said. “I’m surprised he’s not first-team all-conference. Outside of Flagg, Kon Knueppel is the next best player in the ACC. I really admire that kid—his ability to get loose balls, grab offensive rebounds, or dive on the floor is amazing. He can really shoot, plays tough defense, and I think he stood out even more.”

Kon Knueppel has often been overlooked throughout the season, with the spotlight shining on Cooper Flagg and his remarkable achievements.

Still, Knueppel has been an essential contributor to Duke’s success, helping the team reach 30 wins, earn a No. 1 seed in March Madness, and win both the ACC regular season and tournament titles.

As the tournament approaches, Knueppel is averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, while shooting 39.2% from three-point range and an outstanding 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.