And one: Freshman sensations and rebounding dominance leads to Duke's win at Arizona

No. 12 Duke men’s basketball took down No. 17 Arizona on the road to improve to 4-1 on the season. The Blue Zone analyzes the contest:

One player: Kon Knueppel

Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg delivered another MVP-caliber performance, but he wasn’t alone in making an impact. Five-star recruit Kon Knueppel continued to show why he's one of the most highly touted freshmen in college basketball, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Knueppel’s stat line was a testament to his versatility, as he contributed both offensively and on the boards, providing Duke with a steady presence throughout the night. Knueppel collected six defensive rebounds and one offensive rebound, continually kicking the ball back out to the Blue Devils. Together, Flagg and Knueppel formed a potent duo that had the Wildcats struggling to find answers all evening. 

One word: Rebounds

Although Arizona entered the McKale Center Friday leading the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 21.7, Duke wasted no time asserting its dominance on defense and on the glass. Despite shooting at 42.6% from the field, the Blue Devils capitalized on their own second-chance opportunities, scoring 14 points off 13 offensive rebounds. With junior Maliq Brown and Knueppel each grabbing a team-high seven boards, Duke surged to a plus-8 rebounding margin in the first half — a gap that only grew as the game progressed. By the final buzzer, the Blue Devils had out-rebounded the Wildcats 43-30, while limiting Arizona to a mere 55 points.

One stat: 3-Pointers

After a frustrating night from beyond the arc in its Nov. 12 loss to Kentucky, Duke quickly found its shooting touch against Arizona. The Blue Devils were much sharper from deep Friday, shooting at a 36% clip on 3-pointers compared to 16.7% in the Champions Classic defeat. Flagg went 40% from beyond the arc while Knueppel hit two pivotal threes to secure cushioning leads. The duo’s improved perimeter shooting was key, as they consistently stretched the floor and kept the Wildcats' defense off balance. 

In contrast, Arizona struggled mightily from long range, hitting just 6 of 23 attempts, which compounded their offensive woes. Wildcat guards Jaden Bradley and Caleb Love could not connect on vital shots, allowing the Duke offense to regain momentum. The Blue Devils’ defensive pressure and sharp shooting helped them dominate the game on both ends, securing a vital win against a tough road opponent.