Jon Scheyer shares what is clicking for Duke amid five-game winning streak

Duke is now on their second-longest win streak of the season after earning their fifth consecutive last night. The Blue Devils are securing victories at the right time and, according to Jon Scheyer, it’s because of their continued growth and development.

Scheyer assessed what has led to his team’s latest run during his postgame press conference after their 84-55 win at Miami on Wednesday. He said it is a credit to his players for taking heed of what they’ve learned through 26 games. That has led them to playing some of their best basketball at the best time to be doing so.

“Just embracing the lessons we’ve learned along the way this season,” said Scheyer. “I think, so quickly? I’m not saying you guys. I’m saying in general. People can draw early conclusions about who people are, who teams are. Just as, with teams, all along? We’ve talked about, privately, just getting better in the whole season. We want to be at our best in February and March.”

“I think we’re on an upswing,” Scheyer said. “I think we’ve continued to get better.”

Scheyer says this streak also says a lot about the grit and fortitude of his players. Regardless of the lows they may have experienced to this point, they have routinely gotten up and answered the bell this season.

“I think these guys have showed incredible toughness,” Scheyer said. “With things not going their way? You find out about people and the way they respond. All these guys, man? They responded at different times throughout the season – whether it be setbacks, whether it be losses. They’ve just kept working, kept believing.”

“We need to continue to do that,” said Scheyer.

Duke won eight straight games from December 9th to January 13th, including four in conference play to start the new year, for their longest win streak of the campaign. After that, they went 3-2 over their next with one win coming on a saving foul against Clemson and the two losses coming to Pittsburgh and at North Carolina.

However, since losing in Chapel Hill, the Blue Devils have run off five straight, albeit with most coming against the bottom half of the conference. They’ve come in dominant fashion as they should, though, with an average margin of victory of 15.8 per win. That includes last night’s in Coral Gables as the 29-point win over the Hurricanes was their largest in conference play and tied for fourth largest on the year.

With the postseason just a few games away, every team wants to be trending up at this moment. Duke is currently doing that because, in Scheyer’s opinion, of the players he has on his roster and what they’re about.

“To me? It’s about their character,” said Scheyer. “It’s about the makeup of the guys we have in that locker room.”