Jon Scheyer says having experience in Year 2 is different

Experience is everything, whether it’s a head coach or a player. Now, while he enters his second year leading Duke, Jon Scheyer also has several returning players back on his roster to build this second team up with.

Scheyer spoke on the Blue Devil’s experience during a press conference this week. After bringing several players back for their next years at Duke, he said it gives them a great foundation to construct everything on top of. Even so, he also added that it also makes them a completely different team with them all being a season older and then paired with the program’s five additions from the offseason.

“It’s different, it’s different. I’m excited because it’s obviously great having eight players back. We went through a lot last year so there’s a base to build from,” said Scheyer. “But I think our team is also very different. We’re going to have to play differently. At the same time, we have some things that were really good that we did last year that we need to continue to improve on.”

“As long as we all understand that? That it’s not the same kind of team? It’s totally different,” Scheyer continued. “We need to be better. We can be better on both ends of the ball. But it’s exciting to have gone through some things with some of these guys.”

Scheyer also appreciates what those decisions to return to Durham represent to his program. In turn, he returned that faith by not being incredibly active in the portal as Duke brought in a single transfer.

“I look at some of the decisions our guys had, whether it was the NBA or college. I’ve told you guys before. The amount of other schools that call if a guy didn’t play as much here? They’re getting calls to transfer throughout the season, after the season. For all of them to make that decision to come back here? I think it’s just doubling down on the commitment to each other,” said Scheyer. “We’ve done the same thing with them with not bringing in another transfer.”

That familiarity with one another from a team that went 27-9 last season is going to mean a lot to the Blue Devils as they head to next season. Now, from here, he wants this roster to make this year their own by putting their own unique stamp inside of Cameron Indoor.

“It’s been our group and I think we’ll be really together because of it. It gives us a great starting point and, now, the hard work begins,” Scheyer said.