What Duke Basketball Aims to Accomplish in Today’s Game

The Duke Blue Devils basketball team knows that if they want to go all the way and win it all this season, they are going to have to play great on the defensive end. That is what wins championships.

They know that, and head coach Jon Scheyer puts a huge emphasis on that since he has taken over as Duke's head coach. He prepares his team all offseason and puts them in the best position to be successful. One thing he always wants his team to do is play with toughness and effort.

He has that mentally because he knows what it takes to win a National Championship. He needs to get his team there to make it happen. The Blue Devils are a young team, and they have a lot to learn this season. That is why the first few months of the season are going to be a learning curve for this team, but one that is going to make it possible to win it all.

Oct 8, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers questions from the media at The Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images | William Howard-Imagn Images

Duke Having Defensive Mindset

In today's game, the main focus for Duke is going to be the defense. They want to improve from their showing that they had against Texas to open up the season. They have the players to do it, and they know they could cause a lot of problems on defense that turn into easy buckets in transition. That is when Duke is at their best when their defense turns into offensive points.

"Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils' 75–60 win over showcased a young team learning its rhythm but one that's also armed with the tools to be potentially elite. has size, defensive commitment, and stretches of sheer dominance. Now, against the challenge flips from surviving a heavyweight fight to handling the light work with purpose," said John Watson of 247Sports.

vdbd — Nov 4, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Lassina Traore (23) gets the rebound against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of the Dick Vitale’s Invitational game at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images | Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images

"This one isn't about margin of victory as much as maturation. Make no mistake, Duke will be favored by a truckload. But even in a "buy game," the Blue Devils can sharpen the edges that mattered most in the opener."

"Our defense carried us the whole time," said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer. "Once we started finishing possessions with rebounds, we made it really tough for them to score."

"Defensively, the rotation timing on the perimeter will remain a focal point. The Catamounts' quick perimeter firing will stress closeouts and challenge Duke to defend without overhelping. Scheyer said after Texas that the team's size and "activity on the ball" define its ceiling. WCU will provide a different test with their quick triggers and smaller guards."

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