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Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Breathes March Madness Fire
When it comes to addressing Duke basketball critics and over-the-top demands from fans, Jon Scheyer has found his voice.
Duke basketball fans have at times wondered where head coach Jon Scheyer’s fire and passion are on the sideline. Perhaps that's totally unwarranted, as people in the program have assured the public that hardly anyone has ever been more competitive around the Blue Devils. Legions of fans aren’t able to hear private conversations and witness practice moments that would put their mind at ease.
Those same fans can rest assured now that the head man is breathing fire at the perfect time.
Scheyer has maintained a calm and unshakeable demeanor both in games and during postgame pressers all season. But he bucked that trend on Friday night.
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Following the No. 4 seed Blue Devils' 54-51 victory over No. 1 seed Houston in their Sweet 16 March Madness matchup in Dallas' American Airlines Center, sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski was asked about the program's growth in the toughness department from its Round of 32 loss to Tennessee in Orlando last season. "Flip" gave the correct political answer, but Scheyer came in off the top rope with the following message:
“Can I just say about that, by the way, you don't have to apologize for losing in the tournament. Every team loses except one. For these guys, look, we started four freshmen last year, and this year, these guys — Jeremy [Roach] obviously has been through it — this is only their second time. I think for us, some of the criticism about toughness or whatever, try being at Duke as a freshman and sophomore and battling your ass off in the tournament, and then talk to me about being tough.
"For me, these guys have shown every step of the way how tough they are mentally, physically. I know it's not my question. I know it's for these guys. But I just have to say that because they've repeatedly shown me what they're made of in the two years that I've been the head coach and obviously for Jeremy before that."
If there was a brick wall, most Duke basketball enthusiasts would have reduced it to dust by now. It's such a stark change from the patient calmness the 36-year-old Jon Scheyer has displayed throughout the season.
His normal approach has clearly worked, However, sometimes you have to fire up the people. Fired-up fans and fired-up players will do great things. And make no mistake: three more wins this season would require great things done.
That quest begins at 5:05 p.m. ET Sunday in Dallas when the Blue Devils, with Final Four dreams on the line, face their ACC neighbor from the Triangle in No. 11 seed NC State.
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