Knueppel and Cooper SHINE in First Look at Duke-UNC Fanatic Arch Rivalry

Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg got their taste of what an elite rivalry is like. The Duke and University of North Carolina’s rivalry, specifically in basketball, is that like none other. By far, this collegiate rivalry is the closest you can get to an NBA game in the NCAA. The pressure was blazing, but these two freshmen - both of which are projected to go pro in the top 20 in the 2025 draft - didn’t even seem to notice what was different. Knueppel was the highest scorer on either team with 22, and Flagg was only one point behind with 21. The game was thrilling, and one of the most entertaining games of the season. Duke wasted no time at the beginning of the first half, torching the Tar Heels, and gapping them 23-6 in the first seven minutes of the game. Not backing down, the Blue Devils had no problem silencing the UNC fanbase. Knueppel got the ball in the mid-range a lot, and just couldn’t miss, which helped heighten the lead. Riding a high, the energy didn’t falter the whole first half, especially after Cooper Flagg watched the ball sink through the net after his turn-around fade away beat the buzzer to end the first half, making the score 47-25 Duke. Cooper finished the first half with 13, and his team was turbo-charged as they re-grouped in the locker room. Right off the bat, Cooper Flagg found Kon Knueppel who gripped the rock and flushed down a dunk, showing UNC that Duke had no intention of letting up. 4 minutes later, Knueppel got the crowd of 9,000 on their feet again after toying with his defender and getting an and one pull up bucket. Knueppel didn’t slow down, adding to the scoreboard frequently. Cooper did the same. While these two deserve high credit for their play, it’s important to not overlook the three in the Duke Freshman trio. Khaman Maluach controlled the paint, holding his own, and grabbing 6 boards, four of which were offensive. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel proved they were ready to handle pressure after dominating in the Duke vs. UNC game. Duke is 10-0 in their conference, and is the number 2 seed nationally, even after losing a core of Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain, their two previous stars. Cooper Flagg is projected to go first in the draft, and has been scouted for three years, while Knueppel will be a first round pick after his national discovery this season. Kudos to the young stars in Duke’s core.