Filling Coach K’s Shoes, Duke’s John Scheyer Says He “Can’t Have an Ego”

The NCAA 2023-24 season has brought the teams and their staff under media scrutiny. Going with the flow, the Duke Blue Devils’ head coach Jon Scheyer is under the scanner as he is trying his best to fill the shoes of his mentor Mike Krzyzewski.

Though the Devils are performing averagely well, Scheyer seems to have taken a leaf out of Coach K’s book that had all his fans swooning over his humility.

What did Jon Scheyer say?

The famous ‘March Madness’ podcast recently dropped a clip of Scheyer on their official channel where NCAA analyst Andy Katz asked a few questions to Scheyer, giving the audience a view into his mind. Scheyer was asked to share his views regarding his coaching methods and complimented on being the perfect guy considering his young age for the position of the head coach at Duke since college basketball has been evolving. He mentioned to adjusting well to the new things and from his answer it was evident that he is a dynamic coach.

“Look it’s funny for me because I’m still one of the youngest coaches in college basketball… But it’s still so different right like the priorities for certain players are nothing like it was for guys that played when I was coming through and so you can’t have an ego, don’t get me wrong… There are questions about NIL, questions about playing time,” Scheyer stated.

Scheyer was previously a player at the Duke University under head coach Krzyzewski from the year 2006-2010. He helped his team win the national championship in 2010. Following a decent college basketball career, Scheyer once again entered the Duke in the capacity of a special assistant to Mike post the resignation of the then-assistant coach Chris Collins. He toiled hard and worked his way up through the ranks, getting the position of head coach during Coach K’s absence in their contest against the Boston College.

The Illinois-born was then made the head coach permanently after Krzyzewski’s retirement post the 2021-22 season. Scheyer seems to have adjusted well since he took his team to an ACC tournament win and then to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Coach K had previously expressed some reservations regarding the college basketball changing changing NIL deals.

Read More: With Kansas Stumbling Out, Can Purdue Maintain Number 1 NCAA Status?

He seems to be taking off the Blue Devils legacy right from where Mike left. But what about the Duke this season?

How are the Duke performing?

The Duke Blue Devils under coach Scheyer have an overall 5-2 record this season and most recently lost a nail-biter to the unranked Arkansas. They lost both the halves by close margins of 33-32, and 47-43.

Though their center Kyle Filipowski and guard Jeremy Roach besotted 26 and 22 points, the Duke’s failed to come up with a team effort. It was their second loss this NCAA season. And this would have definitely sent a message to Scheyer.

Scheyer despite the loss seems to be motivating his players and has a stable state of mind. It might take him sometime before he adjusts to the different coaching methods, but ultimately critics are sure he will come out on top with time.

Watch This Story: Sending Shockwaves in The Basketball World, Know 18YO MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Story

Perhaps, all he needs right now is a cheerful spirit and not to let heads bow down.