It wasn’t a suprise that a Duke freshman was named the Most Valuable Player of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

One of the advantages of being a program like Duke is having players of Knueppel’s caliber to step up in the absence of the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Another freshman, Kon Knueppel, played a big role in Duke's victory over the Cards, as he dropped 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals while shooting 6-for-12 from the field. Knueppel's performance against Louisville led to an ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player award, an honor that he made sure to thank his team for.