"I was in the corner most of the second half": Duke star Cooper Flagg gets real with Isaiah Evans on admiring Kon Knueppel masterclass vs Georgia Tech
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg gave an impromptu interview in the locker room with his teammate Kon Knueppel after the No. 5 Blue Devils' comprehensive 82-56 road win over Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Talking to another teammate Isaiah Evans, Flagg was in awe of Knueppel's performance, particularly his link-up play with center Khaman Maluach.
"I was just in the corner most of the second half watching Kon [Knueppel] and Khaman [Maluach] work at the top of the key, so that was fun to watch Kon and Khaman have that connection, man." Flagg told Evans.
The win was the perfect gift for Cooper Flagg, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on the day.
You can watch his full interview in the post below.
Cooper Flagg and Duke roll on the road to defeat Georgia Tech
In their second ACC game of the season, the Blue Devils dominated Georgia Tech with an 82–56 victory, including a powerful 41–20 second half.
Cooper Flagg contributed 13 points, four rebounds and two assists in a quiet game, taking just 11 shots. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Kon Knueppel stepped up with a standout performance, leading the team with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, as well as linking with center Khaman Maluach on a few alley-oops.
After the game, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised his team's strong showing.
"I just thought the shot quality was a lot better, and it's probably the best that we've flowed just going from defense to offense," Scheyer said."I thought we did a really good job. We're finding each other's strengths and understanding just how to play together."
The Blue Devils impressed with their ball movement, proving why they are a top-five team. They finished the game with 20 assists, a stat that thrilled Scheyer.
"Collectively, I thought a lot of different guys stepped up and it was a great effort, so proud of our team," he said. "Twenty assists, second highest we've had all year, I think our offense is coming along."
Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils will now enjoy the holidays before they host Virginia Tech at Cameron Indoor on New Year’s Eve.