Playing Their 2nd Season Without Coach K, Are Duke Still the Formidable Team in the NCAA?

Duke University basketball program, under the leadership of Coach K, has consistently been a dominant force in college basketball. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, or “Coach K,” has left a lasting legacy that makes Duke a formidable opponent. With over four decades of coaching experience, Coach K has set records that seem almost insurmountable, amassing an astonishing 1,000+ victories, 12 appearances in the hallowed Final Four, and five national championships. He also has 15 ACC titles under his belt. Coach K’s presence alone instills fear in rival coaches and players. Every time a team faces Duke, they know they’re up against a basketball mastermind.

However, Coach K bid farewell to the coaching sidelines in 2022, leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill. The 2023 season saw the emergence of a new leader in the form of Jon Scheyer, a former Duke captain and an assistant coach under the tutelage of Coach K himself. The pressing question now lingers: With Coach K no longer taking reigns of Duke University, can the team maintain its formidable status in the NCAA?

Jon Scheyer’s inaugural season with the Duke Blue Devils

The NCAA basketball world watched with great anticipation as the Duke Blue Devils entered the 2023 Men’s ACC Championship without their legendary coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who retired after the previous season. While Duke had been a perennial powerhouse under Coach K’s leadership, the question on everyone’s mind was whether they could maintain their status as a formidable team without the coaching icon.

Fortunately, Duke University emerged victorious in the 2023 Men’s ACC Championship, defeating Virginia with a final score of 59-49. In his debut season as the Blue Devils’ leader, Jon Scheyer secured his first ACC title with a victory. The game’s standout performer was Jeremy Roach, who scored 23 points to help his team win. Kyle Filipowski, the freshman sensation, also played a significant role in the triumph, scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds, earning him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is that Duke finished a fantastic late-season run, resulting in their 22nd ACC title, a league record. By preventing Virginia from taking the lead at any point during the game, the Blue Devils established their superiority early on. The Cavaliers worked assiduously to reduce the deficit throughout the game as they had a sizable lead that at times reached 14 points.

Jon Scheyer’s historic accomplishment cannot be overstated. In his first season as head coach, Scheyer, Mike Krzyzewski’s successor, was able to win the ACC Tournament. He accomplished a historic achievement by winning the championship as both a player and a coach, being the first person in ACC history to do so.

Unfortunately, he did not have much luck with the Blue Devils during the NCAA tournament.

Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils make an early exit

Duke’s performance leading up to the NCAA tournament had been encouraging under new head coach Jon Scheyer. They ended the regular season on a nine-game winning streak and dominated No. 12 Oral Roberts 74-51 to secure a spot in the tournament’s opening round.. Before then, with every player healthy, the Blue Devils enjoyed an impressive 19-1 record. All indications were that Duke would keep up their illustrious tradition.

Things took an unexpected turn in the second round of the NCAA tournament, when the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers played the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils. Duke’s season had been looking up, but Tennessee’s stellar performance put an end to it. The game was closely contested prior to Tennessee going on a 9-0 run late in the first half and gaining the lead. Even though Duke made an effort to reduce the lead, they were no match for Tennessee’s Olivier Nkamhoua’s accurate shooting.

With 18 points coming off 15 Duke turnovers and an extra 12 points from second chances, Tennessee profited from Duke’s mistakes. With a field goal percentage of just 37.1%, Duke’s shooting difficulties only made things worse for them. Duke’s prospects were further dashed when junior guard Jeremy Roach received his fourth foul early in the second half, leaving them with little depth off the bench. Tennessee, in contrast, had nine guys who played at least 11 minutes.

Mark Mitchell, Duke’s starting forward, was already out due to a knee injury sustained in practice. The frontcourt reserves, Ryan Young and Jacob Grandison had a minimal impact after Dariq Whitehead entered the starting lineup, playing just 21 minutes and providing two points. The Blue Devils’ attempts were further hampered by the bench’s lack of output.

Duke managed to score only 52 points, equaling their all-time low in tournament history. This marks Duke’s first exit in the second round of the NCAA tournament since 2017, ending a streak of three consecutive Elite Eight appearances. The disappointment is palpable, particularly after a season filled with highs and the excitement surrounding Coach Scheyer’s debut season.

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However, as they say, in sports, the only constant is change, and Duke will undoubtedly look to regroup and come back stronger in the upcoming seasons.

What’s next for Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils?

The basketball world is buzzing with anticipation as Jon Scheyer’s second season in charge of the Duke Blue Devils nears. The Blue Devils are motivated to advance further this time around after a shocking exit in the NCAA tournament’s second round last season. Furthermore, the Duke Blue Devils are ranked second in the most recent AP Top 25 Preseason Men’s Basketball poll. Kansas is the only team in front of them, and this is the 16th season in a row that Duke has opened in the Top 10.

But it doesn’t end there; Duke has also continued an amazing run, finishing the season within the top 10 for an astounding 28 years in a row. The Jayhawks, who have been ranked in the top 10 for 18 seasons, are the next closest team to breaking this record. They are well-positioned to aim higher and go further in this year’s NCAA tournament with the No. 2 national rating. The abundance of returning talent in Durham has a big part to play in these high expectations. Mark Mitchell, Tyrese Proctor, Jeremy Roach, and Kyle Filipowski are among the four starters who are back in action. The Blue Devils’ exciting recruiting class, which includes four highly regarded freshmen, is another factor.

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Duke faces Dartmouth on November 6, in the venerable Cameron Indoor Stadium to kick off the regular season of 2023. Notably, Duke is entering the season with its top four leading scorers all returning, a rare occurrence that hasn’t happened since 1986. Are the Blue Devils still the dominant force they have always been in NCAA basketball as they begin their second season without Coach K? The upcoming season is expected to give the answer.

What are your thoughts on Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils? Let us know in the comments below!