Jon Scheyer stresses need for more attention on basketball with ACC expansion

College football has dominated the focus when it comes to conference realignment. As the head coach of a college basketball powerhouse, though, Duke’s Jon Scheyer had some things to say about his sport and program’s role within those conversations.

Scheyer addressed conference realignment in a press conference this week. While people view and scale football’s value differently, he said to not underestimate the power of the brand that is Blue Devil basketball.

“I think, as far as basketball goes, especially here, especially with what Duke basketball has meant to the ACC? I don’t know that it’s talked about in the way that I think it should be,” Scheyer said. “You think about the brand, you think about the stage, the views, the clicks that Duke basketball gets? There’s a huge value to that.”

With that said, Scheyer didn’t feel as if it was his place to speak too much into the matter considering how unpredictable it is. He’s leaving it up to the leadership in Durham to make those calls while he focuses on maintaining the on-court standard at Duke.

“As far as the ACC realignment, expansion, or whatever happens? My trust is with Nina (King) and President Price,” Scheyer said. “I know they’re on it. It’s a really difficult time. I know it’s very unsettling, it’s hard to predict what’s coming next. I’d be naive to sit up here and say nothing is going to happen. I think things will happen in the future but we need to focus on what we can control and, for me, that’s being the best program we can have.”

To this point, no one has departed the Atlantic Coast Conference and, besides Cal, Stanford, and SMU, the conference hasn’t considered anyone else as additions. Still, while there’s some calm in the storm at the moment, most are aware that, if anyone’s next, the ACC will be the next domino fall.

Even so, Scheyer believes he has other things to worry about as do the Blue Devil’s other coaches. They’re focused on competing and supporting one another and then, from there, they’ll back whatever play comes from their administration.

“With what other sports are doing here? They’ve done an incredible job, specifically Mike Elko with our football team. I think he’s an incredible coach. I’m excited to support those guys this year with what they’ve done. I think all of us at Duke should do the same,” Scheyer said. “That’s really how I feel. (I’m) just putting my trust in Nina and President Price.”