Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Duke

Jon Scheyer says 'this is what you come to Duke for' after winning ACC Tournament title in Year 1

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•03/11/23•

AndrewEdGraham

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)

While Jon Scheyer experienced plenty of success in a Duke uniform and as a chief consigliere to Mike Krzyzewski for years. But there’s got to be something sweet about the first ACC Tournament title he won as head coach on Saturday night.

After the Blue Devils toppled Virginia, 59-49, to take the ACC Tournament crown, Scheyer spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and shared what it meant.

“You know, it means a lot,” Scheyer said. “This is what you come to Duke for, this is why you coach at Duke. To have the opportunity to win a championship, but also, then, to win it. These guys were ready to play. Just for me, it’s an honor to be with them and to go through this together. We have more to do, obviously, but tonight we’re going to enjoy this one.”

The win over the Cavaliers is the ninth straight for Duke, which will look to stay hot in the NCAA Tournament next weekend. And as the Blue Devils have started reeling off wins, Scheyer believes defense has been at the core of it.

That was pronounced to the highest degree against Virginia on Saturday.

“That’s been our identity all year. Tonight was — scoring was hard to come by tonight,” Scheyer said. “And our guys just stuck with it. I thought our defense was big time. Virginia is a really good team, they’re going to give a lot of teams problems in the tournament. But for us to win this, to stick with it, and to make some shots is good, too, by the way. To see it go through the basket.”

Scheyer assured that Duke will prepare for the NCAA Tournament in short order after learning of their opponent on Sunday. But for now, he and his players will take an evening to enjoy winning a conference championship.

“For me it’s the fact of how much adversity they fought through, sticking together, never paid attention to anything else, any noise. Kept their heads down and continued to work. And I’m just so proud of the growth and the development that they’ve had,” Scheyer said.