Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Rookie Kon Knueppel Finally Catches Fire Again

Thanks in part to Kon Knueppel's shooting prowess, the Duke basketball squad dismantled the Yellow Jackets.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball versus Georgia Tech
Duke basketball versus Georgia Tech / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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Entering the Duke basketball team's 82-56 road victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon, heralded freshman guard/forward Kon Knueppel had knocked down only seven of his 30 attempts from 3-point land between the Blue Devils' previous six outings. His 3-point percentage, a highlight following his 7-for-14 clip across the team's first two games of the season, had fallen to 32.3.

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Against high-major opponents, Knueppel was shooting only 6-for-32 beyond the arc (18.8 percent). Plus, the former five-star recruit from Wisconsin hadn't tallied more than a dozen points in a contest since doing so in each of the Blue Devils' first three games of the season over a month ago.

But against the Yellow Jackets, the 19-year-old Knueppel, a full-time starter under third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer, heated up to the tune of 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including an encouraging 4-for-8 clip from downtown.

He finished with a game-high 18 points, adding four rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block without committing a single turnover across his team-high 32 minutes on the floor.

Kon Knueppel and the Blue Devils have now won six straight, marking the program's longest winning streak since Duke strung together eight wins after losing to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta last December.

They'll look to make it seven in a row when they host the Virginia Tech Hokies (5-7, 0-1 ACC) in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network).

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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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