Jon Scheyer says Duke can't 'let up' against Boston College

Jon Scheyer got his first signature win as Duke‘s head coach on Wednesday, helping out the ACC in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against Ohio State. An overall team performance from the Blue Devils showed exactly what they will be capable of going forward, beginning with another tough test over the weekend.

Fresh off two Big Ten opponents, Boston College is next up on the schedule for Duke. Scheyer said this was always going to be a tough stretch of the season with ACC play beginning in early December. The goal in Durham? Do not let your foot off the gas.

“It’s crazy we’re already playing conference games,” Scheyer said. “We knew this would be a really tough stretch and I think the tendency is you want to let you. We can’t let up at all. Boston College is going to be a physical, tough team.”

Playing tough and physical teams has been a theme early in the year, beginning with Kansas in the Champions Classic. Purdue has proven to be one of the best in the country, while Ohio State was a good test as well.

Scheyer thinks these types of games will have Duke prepared for the rest of the season. With such a young freshman core, a learning curve is there in college football. The Blue Devils will be ready for a grueling ACC schedule and eventually the Big Dance in March due to these early tests.

“I think the preparation has been incredible,” said Scheyer. “You think about the teams we’ve played, the scrimmage we had. I think it’s prepared us well for the rest of the year. And really, we play different kinds of teams. Ohio State, they’re physical like Purdue but it’s a different kind of team. I think more games like this, the better we’ll be down the stretch.”

Boston College will not be the end of an impressive schedule for Duke. Madson Square Garden will be the venue of for the Jimmy V Classic, where Iowa will be on the other side of the court. That will make four Big Ten opponents in a three-game stretch.

Learning how to play in these types of games will be critical to success later in the year for Duke, even if the wins are not falling their way.