Jon Scheyer is no stranger to the pressure of leading Duke basketball. As the successor to the legendary Coach K, he has delivered. In only a few seasons, he has already established himself as more than qualified for the job, guiding Duke to an ACC Tournament championship, an Elite Eight appearance, and consecutive 27-win campaigns. And with March Madness right around the corner, Scheyer now has his sights on leading the Blue Devils deeper into the tournament this year. But as all great coaches do, he knows more work must be done.

In an appearance on the Field of 68: After Dark podcast, Scheyer was candid about Duke’s top concerns going into the NCAA Tournament. “There are two things,” he said. “one, it’s just the consistently strong rebounding and the finishing of possessions that you’re going to do in the tournament. By the way, if you look at the statistics, we’ve done a really good job in that area, but I think we can be better.”

That statement shows his hunger for perfection even when Duke is already among the best rebounding teams in the nation this season. The Blue Devils have been dominant on the glass, averaging 38.5 rebounds while owning an 8.2 rebounding margin—among the best in Division I hoops. A recent example of that came in the 80-62 victory over Virginia when they steamrolled the Cavaliers in rebounding, 41-21.

Another aspect Scheyer pointed out was half-court execution, which is key when March rolls around. He went on, “The second part, for me, is just what any team has to do to win a March: it’s half-court execution. That can be in game situations, whether it’s at the end of a half, the end of a game, key situations, or just the fact that it becomes more of a half-court game when you’re trying to win a March.”

It’s important because, in tournament games, precise offensive sets and clutch decision-making are non-negotiable. Duke at times has put up some very impressive offensive numbers — 81 points per game on 48.6% shooting — but when the competition has been elite they have struggled at the same moments.

What are the chances of Jon Scheyer leading Duke to the final four?

Jon Scheyer and Duke are in a great position to make a deep run in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Sitting at 23-3 and ranked No. 3 in the nation, this team has all the tools to go far in March Madness. With Cooper Flagg leading the charge—arguably the best player in college basketball right now—alongside stars like Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor, Duke has a roster loaded with talent and depth. Flagg’s dominance on both ends of the floor, including some jaw-dropping performances like his 42-point game earlier this season, makes Duke a nightmare matchup for anyone.

Defensively, they’ve been the best team in the country by most measures—defensive efficiency, field goal percentage allowed, or any other metric, actually. To that add their size and rebounding ability and it’s obvious why they are a favorite to win it all. Already, Jon Scheyer has proven himself a sharp coach, taking Duke to an ACC title and Elite Eight in his first two seasons. And he is spot on about rebounding and half court execution for tournament success.

Of course, there are challenges. Duke has to be better on the boards and in half court situations and Scheyer himself has pointed out that there has to be more consistency in those areas. But with their talent, momentum and strong coaching, Duke is built for those moments. 

There is no reason Duke can’t run a Final Four, or better yet win it all, if they can scrub those details up. They are one of the most dangerous teams heading into March Madness and no one will want to take them on when everything is on the line.