Jon Scheyer shares how Coach K still impacts his decisions

No coach entered this college basketball season with a harder job than Jon Scheyer. How do you start to move a program past any legend, let alone the likes of one the size of Mike Krzyzewski? Well, in his words, it’s about leaning on what you’ve learned while also blazing a new path.

Ahead of Duke’s matchup this weekend against North Carolina — Scheyer’s first game against the Tar Heels as head coach — he spoke with ESPN. In that interview, he answered a question about how Coach K might still have an influence, intentional or not, on how he runs the Blue Devil program. In his answer, though, Scheyer highlighted the importance of his instincts, even though they may not always be right, in getting him through his first season.

“It goes back to the preparation that I had. (It) really allowed me to feel strongly about who I am and what I value. There are obviously things that come up in real time you just can’t prepare for. Game situations, injuries, things you can’t predict. But it’s been following my instincts,” Scheyer said. “Naturally, I think about a lot of things Coach K would’ve done too. I’ve been around him such a long time. But, really, that hasn’t been a thing with me. I’ve followed my instincts and go for it.”

Krzyzewski wrapped up his career last season with 1,438 wins, a 0.785 winning percentage, and five championships at Duke. In all honesty, there may be no way or chance for Scheyer to ever live up to the legacy that Coach K built in Durham.

That’s fine by him, though. That’s because, at the end of the day, he is the one that was tasked with carrying the torch. He’s fully bought into doing it his way, even if it comes with risks and mistakes that the population of Krzyzewskiville isn’t accustomed to.

“Have I batted 1.000? No, nobody does,” Scheyer said. “But, at the end of the day, you talked about the guy who follows ‘The Guy’? The only regret I would have is not following my instinct. I feel very confident in what we’re doing and what we’re building. And you have to just stick with it and keep doubling down when you hit adversity.”