Jon Scheyer on Duke: 'Our program couldn't be in a stronger place'
Duke and Jon Scheyer saw their season come to an end at the hands of NC State in the Elite Eight over the weekend.
In two years, Scheyer is 54-18 and made back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. Duke also won the ACC Tournament last year.
Scheyer saw improvement in 2024 after losing in the second round in 2023, but there’s more to do.
“To be honest with you, I’m not thinking about my job and these two years,” Scheyer said. “I’m thinking about the fact that this group just came back after having a tough ACC Tournament loss and have played their hearts out in three tournament games, and they’re winning at halftime. They’re heartbroken after the game because it didn’t go the way they wanted it to. I’m thinking about these guys.”
Scheyer is pretty satisfied with where the program is and where it’s going. He established a winning culture.
“Where is our program at? I think our program couldn’t be in a stronger place,” Scheyer said.
We’re just 20 minutes away from going to a Final Four in our second year. I don’t shy away from our expectations or what we want to do, but for me, that’s not the way I’m thinking at all. I’m just hurting for these guys right now.
“Tough loss. I’ve always used the motivation in my time at Duke from the things that happened. Some of the most heartbreaking moments in my career have happened at Duke. We didn’t go to a Sweet 16 until my junior year. We didn’t go to a Final Four and national championship until my senior year.”
Scheyer worked with what Duke had and brought the Blue Devils back into the spotlight in the post-Mike Krzyzewski era.
“Culture is the hardest thing to have and to build, and you’re doing it now with — we did this with a fresh group,” Scheyer said. “We had Jeremy Roach and Jaylen Blakes. I’m so proud of these guys.
“What Jared McCain has done as a freshman in the NCAA Tournament is special, and we’ll have to regroup and figure out who you have coming back and coming in and all that stuff, but for me, I couldn’t be more confident in where this thing is heading and what we’re doing. That’s not where my mind is at in the least bit.”