Image Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

March Madness Elite Eight: Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg’s Scoring Charge Helps Duke Roll Past Alabama

The No. 1 Blue Devils got the better of Alabama to seal Final Four berth!

Image Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The Duke Blue Devils punched their ticket into the Final Four with a solid 85-65 win over the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in Elite Eight on Saturday. Kon Kneuppel led the No. 1 Blue Devils with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists while Tyrese Proctor came up with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Their sensation, Cooper Flagg, who is projected to be the first 2025 NBA Draft pick, contributed 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the side. With the win, Jon Scheyer has made it to the Final Four as a player in 2010, assistant coach in 2015, and now as a head coach in the current season.

The Game

Duke headed into the game on the back of a 14-game winning streak since February 8. Its freshman phenom Cooper Flagg opened the scoring with a three pointer and the side gained an early 13-5 lead over the rivals with three early 3-pointers. The lead soon extended to 35-22, and while it looked like the game had already slipped away from Alabama, they responded and narrowed the gap to 46-37 at halftime.

Cooper Flagg cutting down the net!

Best player in college basketball. pic.twitter.com/yDW3bJn1e3
— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) March 30, 2025

Duke put on its defensive skills at show and maintained a lead throughout the game. While Alabama came closer to Duke at 65-58 in the final eight minutes, the bridge never surpassed the seven-point mark. With over two minutes remaining, the gap between both teams extended to as high as 78-59. However, as the tickling of the clock continued, Alabama kept losing all its hopes of making a comeback and eventually lost 85-65.

Also Read: March Madness Elite 8: Walter Clayton Jr. Guides Top-Seeded Florida To Final Four With Win Over Texas Tech

Alabama came up with a dreadful offensive performance and had Labaron Philon leading the charts with 16 points, while recording five rebounds and three assists. Grant Nelson and Chris Youngblood finished with 10 points apiece.

Duke, on the other hand, finished the night with 53.6% shooting from the field and 46.2% from the threes. Khaman Maluach tallied 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. They will now be up against the winner of the clash between No. 1 seed Houston and No. 2 Tennessee in Sunday’s Midwest regional final.

GET THAT OUT OF THERE MALUACH! pic.twitter.com/DOkJtEjNR3
— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) March 30, 2025

Also Read: “His Presence Makes Everybody Better”- Dick Vitale Has High Praise for Duke Sensation Cooper Flagg

Duke Blue Devils’ Final Four History

The Blue Devils made it to their 18th Final Four with a blowout win over Alabama. It now ties with UCLA for the second-most Final Four appearance. Their first appearance came in 1963, and last was in 2022.

They are five-time champions, having won the title in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015.

2025 March Madness

Alabama Crimson Tide

Cooper Flagg

Duke Blue Devils

Kon Knueppel

March Madness Elite 8

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.