Helena Frye
Duke University's basketball team, the Duke Blue Devils, has a new head coach, Jon Scheyer, who took over from Krzyzewski following his retirement at the end of the 2021-22 season. Scheyer, who played for Duke himself, has a big job on his hands, with the team going through a lot of roster changes and needing to get older. The Blue Devils have a rich history, with 5 National Championships, 11 Championship Game appearances, and 18 Final Four appearances. They have also produced 71 NBA draft picks, including the LA Lakers' JJ Redick.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Jon Scheyer |
| Previous role | Duke's de facto defensive coordinator |
| Appointment date | June 2, 2021 |
| Achievements | First person to win an ACC tournament title as both a coach and a player |
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What You'll Learn
Duke's current coach, Jon Scheyer
Duke University's basketball team, the Duke Blue Devils, is currently coached by Jon Scheyer. Scheyer was named the next head coach of the Blue Devils on June 2, 2021, following the retirement of legendary coach Krzyzewski at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Scheyer has strong ties to Duke, having played for the Blue Devils himself and winning an NCAA Championship with the team in 2015. He also served as an assistant coach under Krzyzewski before taking over as head coach. On March 11, 2023, Scheyer achieved a unique feat by becoming the first person to win an ACC tournament title as both a coach and a player.
As a head coach, Scheyer has had to navigate significant roster changes and has focused on bringing in more experienced players. He has also had to deal with injuries to key players, such as Tyrese Proctor, and has worked to define roles within the team clearly. Despite these challenges, Scheyer has guided the Blue Devils to success, with the team boasting a strong defense and a high-scoring offense.
Scheyer's impact on the Duke Blue Devils has been significant, and he has the team positioned for continued success in the future. With his strategic roster moves and focus on experience, Scheyer is aiming to build a formidable team capable of competing for championships.
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Roster changes
Duke University's basketball team, the Blue Devils, has seen a lot of roster changes in recent years. On June 2, 2021, Jon Scheyer was named the new head coach of the Blue Devils, taking over from Krzyzewski, who retired at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Scheyer, a former Duke star himself, recognized the need to bring in more experienced players. This is in line with the trend in college basketball, where the best teams today are often not those with the most talented players, but those with older, more experienced players. The last four national championship teams since the pandemic have started with very few freshmen, instead relying on juniors and sophomores with college basketball experience.
To that end, Scheyer brought in four incoming freshmen to join Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, who are a junior and sophomore, respectively. Proctor, a stout on-ball defender, is also an interesting offensive player. As a freshman, his most efficient offense was in transition, where he averaged 1.146 points per possession, ranking in the 69th percentile nationally. However, after returning from an ankle injury in December, Proctor struggled to find his role on the team.
In addition to bringing in more experienced players, Scheyer also focused on improving the team's defense. Jai Lucas, the de facto defensive coordinator, is expected to continue in his role, as the Blue Devils are predicted to have another top-10 defense next season.
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Defensive coordinator, Jai Lucas
Lucas has an impressive coaching career, beginning as a special assistant at his alma mater, Texas, from 2013 to 2015. He then served as the director of basketball operations in the 2015-16 season before being promoted to assistant coach in June 2016. During his time as an assistant coach, Lucas helped the Longhorns secure top-ranked signing classes and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. He also played a key role in the development of players such as Jarrett Allen and Mohamed Bamba, who were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Prior to joining Duke, Lucas spent two seasons at the University of Kentucky, joining as recruiting coordinator in August 2020 and later being promoted to assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. During his time at Kentucky, he helped the program sign several highly-ranked players and was instrumental in landing top-ranked prospects. Lucas's coaching career started at his alma mater, where he spent seven seasons on staff, helping to develop his skills and build a strong foundation for his future success.
As the defensive coordinator at Duke, Lucas has continued to showcase his expertise and leadership. In the 2023-24 season, Duke's defense, under Lucas's guidance, held opponents to 66.3 points per game, ranking 28th nationally and second in the ACC. The team also advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, demonstrating the effectiveness of Lucas's defensive strategies. Lucas's contributions to Duke's success and his ability to develop talented players have earned him a reputation as one of the nation's most respected assistant coaches and recruiters.
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The Blue Devils' performance in the NCAA tournament
The Blue Devils, Duke University's men's basketball team, have a rich history in the NCAA tournament. They have appeared in the tournament an impressive 46 times and have a combined record of 126-41. The team has won the NCAA Championship on five occasions, with their first victory coming in 1991.
In the 1991 NCAA tournament, the Blue Devils upset the heavily favored UNLV Runnin' Rebels 79-77 in the Final Four. The team, led by Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, and Thomas Hill, went on to defeat Kansas 72-65 in the final, claiming Duke's first-ever NCAA Championship. This victory was particularly sweet for the Blue Devils as they had lost to the Runnin' Rebels by 30 points in the previous year's final.
The Blue Devils added to their trophy cabinet in 2015, winning their fifth NCAA Championship by defeating Wisconsin 68-63. This victory marked the end of an era, as it was Coach K's last season with the team. In the 2021-22 season, Duke made it to the Final Four once again but fell just short, losing to their rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels, 81-77. This was the first time these two teams had met in the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils have a strong record in the NCAA tournament, appearing in 11 Championship Games and 18 Final Fours. They have an impressive NCAA-best .755 tournament winning percentage. The team has produced numerous talented players, with eleven being named the National Player of the Year, and 71 players selected in the NBA draft. The Blue Devils have also been regular Atlantic Coast Conference Champions, claiming the title a record 23 times, along with 21 ACC regular-season titles.
The Blue Devils' success in the NCAA tournament can be attributed to their strong coaching staff and talented players. The team has had to navigate roster changes and injuries, but their depth and experience have kept them competitive. With a focus on getting older and building around key players, the Blue Devils aim to continue their success in the NCAA tournament and add to their impressive collection of championships.
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The team's age
Duke's men's basketball team has a new head coach, Jon Scheyer, who took over from Krzyzewski after his retirement at the end of the 2021-22 season. The team has been going through a lot of roster changes, and there has been talk of Jai Lucas being considered for a role, but it is unlikely that any of the coaches will be moving on during the offseason.
The team has recognized the need to get older, and this is non-negotiable. College basketball, in general, has never been older, and the pandemic has played a part in this. The last four national championship teams—2021 Baylor, 2022 Kansas, 2023 and 2024 UConn—have started with a combined total of one true freshman. Duke has a few players with college experience, including junior Tyrese Proctor and sophomore Caleb Foster, which is seen as a huge advantage.
The team has also been dealing with injuries, such as Proctor's ankle injury, which impacted his role when he returned. The players also struggled with role definition, and it is thought that there was a lack of consensus on who the best or most important player on the team was.
Duke's men's basketball team is currently ranked fourth all-time in wins of any NCAA men's basketball program. They have won 5 National Championships and appeared in 11 Championship Games and 18 Final Fours.
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Frequently asked questions
Jon Scheyer is the current head coach of Duke Basketball.
Jon Scheyer took over from Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, who retired at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Duke Basketball has won 5 National Championships, appeared in 11 Championship Games, and 18 Final Fours. The team is currently fourth all-time in wins of any NCAA men's basketball program.
Jon Scheyer has had to deal with a lot of roster changes, and the need to build a more experienced team.
