Jon Scheyer provides keys to beating NC State, reaching Final Four

Duke v Virginia — GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils calls out a play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half of the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Duke will face NC State in a rematch for the right to advance to the Final Four on Sunday evening, and there will be plenty of familiarity between the two programs.

They met twice during the season, with Duke winning a road game at NC State 79-64 just before the regular season ended, then NC State winning 74-69 in the ACC Tournament.

The Wolfpack have been on an absolute heater since that loss at home, winning eight straight games in postseason play.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer broke down some of the keys to the game when speaking with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson ahead of the third meeting between the two programs.

“I think first and foremost you have to have great attention to detail when you’re playing NC State,” Scheyer said. “But the physicality and energy that you have to play with, that was a reminder and a wake-up call for us. And I’m proud of our team for the way that we’ve practiced and the way we responded to that. But they’re even better now than they were when we last played them, so it’s going to be a heck of a challenge. But excited about this opportunity.”

NC State has been powered by the terrific play of forward DJ Burns in the post. He’s an immovable object, but he’s also a terrific passer.

Focus on him too heavily with a double-team and he’ll kick it out to the perimeter to an open shooter. Guard DJ Horne has eaten off those looks, averaging 16.8 points per game.

Bottom line, Duke can expect a dogfight when it lines up to tip off on Sunday afternoon.

A trip to the Final Four is at stake.

“Well look, I don’t take this opportunity lightly at all,” Scheyer said. “It’s hard to get here. I’ve realized that in my time as a player at Duke, my time as a coach, my time loving this sport growing up as a kid. When you watch, you get to this stage, an Elite Eight game, it’s a special thing to be in this game.

“And you don’t want to make it bigger than what it is. You want to focus on the task at hand and what you have to do in order to win. But obviously being in this position is a blessing, these guys have earned it. And I just want them to go for it like crazy and follow their instincts.”

Duke and NC State will tip off at 5:05 p.m. ET with a national broadcast on CBS.