“Uncovering the Sudden Rise of Kon Knueppel: Duke’s Secret Weapon in March Madness and His Fearless Pursuit of Glory”

In the high-stakes world of college basketball, where every moment counts and every possession can tilt the balance of a game, Duke’s freshman guard Kon Knueppel has emerged as a standout player through sheer hustle and relentless energy. Following an exciting victory against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament, the Blue Devils showcased their drive, and none shone brighter than Knueppel. Known for his willingness to dive for loose balls and make those so-called “winning plays,” he exemplifies the heart and determination that can elevate a team deep into March Madness. His teammates, coaches, and even the legendary Mike Krzyzewski have recognized his contributions—reflecting a mindset rooted in competition and respect for the game. In this article, we delve into Knueppel’s rise and the infectious spirit he brings to the court that not only enhances his performance but also galvanizes his entire team. Get ready to explore the gritty realities of hard work and dedication that define this up-and-coming athlete in college basketball! LEARN MORE

AI-assisted summary
• Duke freshman Kon Knueppel is known for his hustle and willingness to dive for loose balls.
• Knueppel’s teammates and coaches, including former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, have praised his effort and impact on winning plays.
• Knueppel’s drive to secure loose balls stems from his competitive spirit and a quote from his favorite player, Larry Bird.
• Knueppel’s hustle plays have been instrumental in Duke’s success this season, including their run to the Sweet 16.

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to[email protected].“You either have it or you don’t, but it’s infectious for our whole team. That play against North Carolina in the first half, where all those guys are the first ones on the floor, I feel like that kind of just speaks to our style of play this year.” “Kon has done a pretty good job of just flying around and having a nose for the ball. I think just being ready, being able to understand the game,” Gillis continued. 

That play happened with Duke up 21 points on the Tar Heels in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. In the final minute of the first half, a ball popped loose and rolled toward the sideline. Isaiah Evans hit the floor first, followed by Knueppel, who was parallel to the ground as he collected the loose ball. Buy Duke NCAA Tournament tickets

“He dove on the floor on a play where he could’ve probably just picked it up. I was like, ‘Man, that’s gotta hurt. You’re already hurting from last week.’ I think his hip was bugging him, too. He told me afterwards, he was like, ‘Man, why’d I do that?’ I was like, ‘You can’t control it, it’s just how you play,’ ” Begovich said in Raleigh, where the top-seeded Blue Devils (33-3) picked up a pair of wins to snag a spot in the Sweet 16. “Long shots, long rebounds. Shot on the left side is more than likely going on the right side. Understanding those little things is huge, but also just having a motor, being able to hustle every single possession, get extra shots for your teammates. He’s just doing everything he can to impact winning.” 

“Jared had a very similar things – McCain – with all those loose balls, broken plays, rebounds. Obviously the impact it has on winning is huge.”

“Whenever there’s a loose ball, he’s always the one in the middle of it,” Begovich said. “It speaks to how hard he plays, for sure.” 

If you need photographic or video evidence of Knueppel’s knack for diving on the floor after a loose ball, there’s a good chance you’ll find an example in each of Duke’s 36 games.

Larry Bird quote drives Kon Knueppel to dive for basketball

“Nah, I don’t know that I have,” Flagg said. “I mean, Kon is always the first one to the floor, diving on it, making those winning plays. That’s just something that he does really well.” “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.” Because of Khaman Maluach’s 7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-8 standing reach, Gillis said the 7-foot-2 center has the length advantage, but Knueppel covers more ground.

“I just think, you take pride in getting the ball, you’ll get the ball. Not everybody takes pride in, ‘Oh, I’m gonna get a loose ball,’ ” Knueppel said. “The cool part, I was talking to Kon about it earlier this season, and he was talking about growing up, his dad (Kon Sr.) would never talk to him about scoring points, wouldn’t talk about making shots,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “When there’s a scrum, you feel confident that Knueppel is going to come up with the ball. It’s fun to coach guys like that,” Scheyer said. When asked if they’ve ever seen someone dive on the floor as much as Knueppel, Cooper Flagg, Mason Gillis and Scheyer discussed Knueppel’s exploits while sticking with the same theme. For Scheyer, who mentioned Jared McCain as another player known for winning 50-50 situations to secure a loose ball, Knueppel is “up there” on the list. Like Flagg and Gillis, Scheyer mentioned how those hustle plays affect the overall outcome. Whether it’s a normal practice or a Sweet 16 game, the Blue Devils know what Knueppel is willing to do for a win.

Cooper Flagg, Jon Scheyer, Mason Gillis discuss Knueppel’s ‘winning plays’ 

“It would be about rebounding and taking charges. Obviously that lends itself to putting your body on the line, and he’s got a knack for it.”For Knueppel, the mindset goes back to his favorite Larry Bird quote: “It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out of bounds.”“It doesn’t seem like it’s that important, but a lot of games come down to who gets the ball and who doesn’t. I try to, every chance, if there’s a ball on the ground, I’m gonna get it.” 

It’s something Knueppel does better than anyone on Duke’s roster, even star player Cooper Flagg. It’s a skill Knueppel has mastered arguably better than anyone remaining in March Madness, sticking his nose into scrums, throwing his body into multiple players in an attempt to get extra possessions for the Blue Devils. During the Blue Devils’ 5-on-5 portion of preparation, freshman Kon Knueppel did something that made Begovich smile and chuckle as he reflected on the moment. After playing 114 minutes during an ACC Tournament MVP run in Charlotte, Knueppel didn’t show any signs of slacking in practice.

Even former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski raved about Knueppel on his Sirius XM radio show ahead of March Madness.The 6-foot-7 Wisconsin native has suffered his share of floor burns, bruises and bumps. But that’s just the way he was raised to play the game.Duke basketball was having what Neal Begovich described as a “regular practice” on the Tuesday before the opening weekend of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. “I think (the ACC Tournament) 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,” Krzyzewski said.