Jon Scheyer states 'there's no magic' in prep to face Caleb Love again

There’s almost no player that Duke is currently more familiar with than Arizona’s Caleb Love. That leaves the Blue Devils with not much new when it comes to their scout for him ahead of their latest matchup against him.

Ahead of the game in the Sweet 16 between No. 1 Duke and No. 4 Arizona, Duke coach Jon Scheyer answered several questions about Love. He’ll present them with a challenge again in what will be the 10th meeting of his career against them.

“Well, sure. I mean, he’s their leading scorer and leads them in assists. I mean he’s, he’s obviously a key player for them. You know, the thing that he does? He can shoot shots at any time and he can hit shots at any time. And, I think he’s an improved passer. Somebody that’s not afraid,” Scheyer said in his evaluation of Love. “So, he’s a really good player and so that challenge is there for our guys but they have challenges way beyond him…He’s had a really good year. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”

Because of the history, Duke is well aware of Love’s development as a overall player over his five years in college. That continued from when he was on the east coast with them to now on the west coast, namely in his playmaking in the Wildcats’ system.

“Well, I think just his, his game has grown. And I think, just with the job Tommy has done, Arizona, the way they play up-tempo? You know, he’s the same player in terms of how he scores and all that. He is just better at everything and I think that’s a credit to his growth and the job that, you know, him, his teammates, his coaching staff – everybody that’s helped him,” said Scheyer. “He’s scoring off the bounce, scoring off catch-and-shoot, to the rim. He’s just continued to develop all around as a player. But I mentioned the passing. I think that’s been, you know, noticeable.”

In his nine games all-time against Duke, Love is averaging 15.9 points (37.6% FG, 26.7% 3PT), 4.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 turnovers. Most of the rivalry there comes from two performances in 2022 when Love, at the time with North Carolina, posted 25 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in wins at Cameron Indoor and in the Final Four in ruining some of the Blue Devils’ last games under Mike Krzyzewski. In two games against them with the Wildcats, though, Love is putting up just 9.5 points on 26.1% shooting and 14.3% from three.

That includes earlier this season when, in a 69-55 win for No. 12 Duke over No. 17 Arizona in Tucson back in November, Love had just eight points while going three-for-thirteen from the field and 1-of-9 from three to go with four assists, four rebounds, and three turnovers. With that, the Blue Devils are going to with the same scout from when they game-planned for him four months ago.

“I just think, for us, you know, there’s no magic to it at the end of the day. It’s still basketball, you know. It’s still the same points we’re emphasizing, what was it, November 22nd, you said – or, what was it, November 22nd – because you want to win the game then. And, now, they’re still the same points, you know. Just, it’s the understanding, if you lose, you go home and so that makes it – it can make you feel differently,” Scheyer said. “At the end of the day, it’s still about the same values and still the same emphasis from us as a staff and for our guys as players. So, um, I’m not sure how much weight I would put into that, although that’s, that is good experience, of course.”