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Duke freshmen thriving outside Cooper Flagg's shadow when lights are brightest

USA Today
Summary
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82% Informative

Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach have helped Duke reach the Final Four .

The Blue Devils are two wins away from the sixth national championship in program history.

They were five -star recruits and held offers from many of college basketball’s most elite programs.

They've also delivered at a moment when the last vestiges of COVID-era super seniors have made college basketball an older man's game.

No. 1 Duke freshmen are in the mix for the top part of this year ’s NBA draft.

Knueppel went 2 of 4 from behind the arc, made all five of his attempts from the line and added five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Maluach had 14 points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocks in Duke 's win over Alabama .