Jon Scheyer satisfied with path Duke took, excited to build on experience

Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils have embodied grow through what you go through during the 2022-2023 season.

Scheyer’s first season leading the Blue Devils wasn’t always storybook. Remember when Duke was blown out by Miami, or when they couldn’t defeat Wake Forest on the road? Nevertheless, Scheyer kept things together and Duke ended their regular season with six straight wins, a victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels, they’re biggest rival, to cap things off.

Speaking with the media after the gigantic win, Scheyer explained how he’s thankful for the trials and tribulations of his first season leading the Blue Devils, believing it made his team closer, stronger and better in the long run.

“I think the biggest thing is that, do you wish some of the things had happened earlier in the year? Could we have gotten it a little bit sooner? Maybe. But if we hadn’t gone through those things, I don’t know if we’re as tough as we are now,” explained Scheyer. “I mean, that was tough. We were tough. … We wouldn’t have the togetherness that we do now.

“When you go through, I remember going through it my freshman year. I remember going through it every year at Duke as a player. You go through parts of it every year I’ve been here on staff. But it makes you tougher. It makes you want it more. I think that is what it’s done for this group.”

Alas, Duke ended their season at 23-8, finishing third in the ACC. With one more conference victory, they could’ve clinched at least a share of the ACC, but Scheyer isn’t getting broken up about that. He recognizes there’s bigger fish to fry, including the ACC Tournament.

While Duke awaits their opponent, Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils can revel in a great season, and get ready for a hopeful NCAA Tournament run.