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Duke coach Jon Scheyer press conference after victory over #UNC
Mar 8, 2026
Duke coach Jon Scheyer press conference after victory over #UNC
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0:00
Uh
0:01
awesome to have uh a lot of former
0:04
teammates, former Duke players here
0:05
tonight. Um I'll start off just look not
0:09
what we were hoping for or expected with
0:11
uh you know Pat before the game. Pat did
0:14
everything
0:15
humanly possible uh to be out there with
0:18
his teammates tonight. He wanted to play
0:19
so badly and and Pat's a tough guy. Uh
0:23
is having some foot soreness and uh
0:26
ultimately it's the right thing that he
0:27
didn't play. Uh but we have to uh we
0:30
have to get him right. You know, that's
0:32
just the bottom line. I can't give you
0:34
more than that because I don't know more
0:35
than that. Uh but his health is uh the
0:38
the primary concern and obviously then
0:41
Caleb, you know, goes down uh uh with
0:44
his foot in in the uh in the game and
0:47
we'll get imaging immediately uh and
0:50
then [snorts] take action whatever
0:51
action if any needs to be done. Uh but
0:55
um unfortunately I don't have all the
0:57
answers tonight either. I haven't even
0:58
seen Caleb yet. But those guys, I mean,
1:01
look, we stepped up to have their backs.
1:04
Um we're not a complete team with those
1:06
two guys. And so uh uh again, Malik was
1:11
off the charts tonight. I mean, his
1:12
impact on winning was unbelievable. You
1:15
know, five steals, nine nine rebounds,
1:17
15 points. I love how assertive he was.
1:19
And then, you know, the the other seven
1:21
guys really impacted winning at a high
1:23
level. So incredibly proud of this team,
1:25
you know, to get 29 wins, to go 17-1 in
1:28
conference. Uh, and I thought for us,
1:31
the other thing to be in a tight game at
1:33
halftime, I thought it was a great thing
1:34
for us. You know, I told our guys at
1:36
half, it's not uh not to be dejected or,
1:40
you know, like when your teammate goes
1:41
down, I think they can knock you back a
1:43
little bit. And I thought it was a great
1:45
answer for us in the second half of how
1:47
we just uh responded with our defense
1:49
and uh pulled away.
1:51
>> Questions,
1:52
>> John? You say you don't know enough to
1:54
forecast with Caleb or Pat. Do you have
1:57
an idea if they might be available next
1:58
week? Is this more of a long-term
1:59
concern? And then just generally if
2:01
Caleb is out for the foreseeable future,
2:03
what sort of becomes the next option
2:04
there?
2:05
>> Yeah. Well, um I haven't thought about
2:08
it yet. You know, it's I mean I'm
2:10
starting to now that you ask me. I'm
2:11
starting to. No, but um to be honest,
2:16
health going into the tournament, the
2:17
NCAA tournament is is the priority. It
2:21
just it just is. And um you know ACC
2:25
tournament, we want to be ready to go.
2:27
But uh I look I can tell you this. I'll
2:31
be shocked if both of them are are
2:32
playing next week. I mean I I'll tell
2:34
you that much. Uh but our our plan is
2:38
how can we get as healthy as possible
2:40
and as ready as possible uh for two
2:43
weeks from now wherever we go. And you
2:45
know, we're we're always going to do our
2:47
best and, you know, uh be ready next
2:50
week. Uh but we've put ourselves in a
2:52
position where we can do something
2:53
special, make a run, and we want to be
2:55
in the best possible position to do
2:57
that, uh the following week.
3:00
>> Uh coach, 18 offensive rebounds to their
3:02
five, 14 second chance points to their
3:05
four, all without Pat starting tonight.
3:07
Can you just talk about how big that was
3:08
for you guys?
3:09
>> Huge. Huge. I didn't think we crashed
3:10
well in the first half. Uh it's probably
3:13
the biggest emphasis. is the first thing
3:14
we show uh every single day for
3:17
feedback. Like they'll see it on Monday.
3:19
We track each guy how they crash. We
3:21
call it purgatory. If you don't do
3:23
anything, you better crash or you better
3:24
get back. And uh the worst thing you can
3:27
do is do nothing. And I think the thing
3:29
that we found this year, probably
3:31
different than other years, is crashing
3:33
helps set your transition defense as
3:35
well. And so I thought a bunch of guys
3:37
came up with I thought Nick in the
3:38
second half made four or five plays just
3:41
to come up with loose balls or rebounds.
3:43
Malik obviously Cam. Uh but the thing
3:46
that we've done has been collective.
3:48
Kaden had two of them. So that was a big
3:50
difference in the game. I thought the
3:51
the rebounding and then I thought we we
3:54
got our defense set and were more us in
3:57
that second half.
4:00
>> John, 31 games in. I don't know if
4:02
you're still learning things about this
4:04
group, but what does it say about them
4:06
to be able to go in without Pat and then
4:08
lose Caleb and still finish a game
4:10
against that team?
4:12
>> Yeah, I I mean I learned something
4:14
tonight. You know, I I learned uh I I
4:18
love the fact we were in different
4:19
position tonight and I don't love the
4:21
fact we were without Pat and Caleb
4:23
obviously with their injury. Uh but we
4:25
were tested. We had some adversity
4:28
thrown our way and we just talked about
4:30
weather in the storm. you know, like
4:31
you're not going to go through March
4:33
without having storms and having to, you
4:36
know, weather them. And I thought we did
4:37
a great job tonight. I love their
4:39
talking in huddles. It's like, it's
4:42
almost like I can't get a word in now
4:43
where guys are talking so much in
4:44
huddles. So, I don't know if I like it
4:46
that much, but uh the way these guys
4:49
talk to each other, man, is is good as
4:51
I've seen. Like, it's uh it's it's high
4:53
level. And I think that really helped
4:55
us.
4:56
>> Coach, uh you talked about Malik Brown's
4:58
impact. I want to talk about Domin Sars
5:00
impact that stretch in the second half
5:01
where he slapped the floor and I think I
5:03
saw you over there slap the floor after
5:04
he
5:05
>> It's been a minute. [laughter] It's been
5:07
a minute.
5:07
>> You just talk about that impact and
5:09
energy he brings in those type of
5:10
winning possessions.
5:11
>> Dam man, I mean, think about how much
5:14
he's grown this year. You know, I
5:15
thought he gave us a huge lift, the
5:17
dunk, slapping the floor, got the crowd
5:20
going, uh, got his teammates going. I
5:22
just think that's what, you know, I was,
5:25
you know, the first time I ever watched
5:26
a game here as a recruit and playing
5:28
here all these years and coaching here.
5:30
I mean, those moments is what makes this
5:32
place special. You know, it's the
5:34
signature Duke run and usually is
5:36
sparked with with defense and uh Dame is
5:40
just such such a disruptor. You know,
5:42
just him at the point of attack, even if
5:43
he doesn't get turnovers, um they're
5:46
running offense out of half court. And
5:48
so for me, it's a little bit old school
5:50
in that regard. and uh he's uh I love
5:52
that moment and I wanted to follow his
5:55
lead and join him and get everybody
5:56
going.
6:00
>> Hey John, um you only had eight
6:02
turnovers tonight and that includes the
6:04
deliberate shot clock at the end of the
6:06
game. Can you talk about the importance
6:08
of ball security?
6:10
>> Yeah, I mean look in March every
6:12
possession is so valuable. That's why
6:14
the rebounding is key. And then just
6:16
taking care of the ball. You know, now I
6:19
thought we had some shots that were a
6:20
little tougher than we normally take and
6:22
I kind of put those in the same category
6:24
as turnovers, but we've had a 2 to1
6:26
assisted turnover ratio for the most
6:28
part and it's been a big reason why
6:30
we've been able to get separation.
6:35
>> Yeah, coach, uh, 14 force turnovers
6:37
tonight, which is double the amount of
6:39
force in the first game in Chapelville.
6:40
What did you make of your defensive
6:42
pressure? And I guess what what did you
6:43
see that was different from last month?
6:45
Well, I I I take full responsibility for
6:48
our defense last game, not not our guys.
6:51
Uh I I did not like what I asked them to
6:53
do. We were way too conservative. We are
6:56
way too soft on the ball. Uh way too
6:58
soft in our ball screen coverage. And I
7:01
thought, um, you know, again, uh a ton
7:05
of respect for Carolina. They have, you
7:06
know, even without Wilson, they've been
7:08
they've been really good and have won.
7:10
Uh, but we wanted to play Duke defense
7:12
tonight and I I think we've done a
7:14
[clears throat] good job of not
7:15
adjusting to opponents. We've more just
7:18
imposed our will with how with how we
7:21
wanted to play. And again, you're going
7:23
to give up some things. That's that's
7:24
part of it. And they uh, you know, Dixon
7:28
hit some threes. They had some baskets
7:30
inside in the first half, but I thought
7:32
in the second half we limited paint
7:33
paint uh them scoring in the paint and I
7:36
thought we were more disruptive uh,
7:38
which is who we are.
7:40
uh coach, uh Monday they released the
7:42
fall ECC teams uh and defensive awards.
7:45
Can you make a push in the case for
7:47
Domar and Malik both being ACC defensive
7:50
player of the year?
7:51
>> Yeah, I think the hardest part for me is
7:53
the fact that one I would hope one of
7:56
them get it right because we've had the
7:58
best defense and we have the best
8:00
defense because we've had the best
8:02
defenders. Uh, I think they're up there
8:04
with any defender in the country and I
8:06
think their numbers would prove that.
8:08
The hard part about it is other guys
8:10
have really guarded, too. You know,
8:11
Pat's a big- time defender. You know, I
8:13
think that flies under the radar. Uh,
8:15
but Malik and Dame, their versatility,
8:18
their disruption, um, one of them should
8:22
win it, you know. Uh, I think both
8:24
should, you know, but, uh, you know, I
8:27
think the fact that Malik guards fives,
8:29
guards ones, guards everybody in the
8:31
floor, I mean, it's incredible what he
8:33
does. Both are unique. Um, but I would
8:36
really hope that both of them uh are are
8:38
right there, one and two. Go back.
8:41
>> Coach, congrats on the win. This is the
8:43
third time in four years that you guys
8:44
have gone undefeated in Cameron. What
8:47
makes Cameron Indoor Stadium the
8:48
greatest homec court advantage uh in the
8:50
sport? Well, first and foremost, I think
8:53
you have to have really good players.
8:54
You know, that's the first thing. And
8:56
then I I think you have to have players
8:58
that really want to represent and are
9:00
proud to step on this floor and
9:02
understand what it means. And and then
9:04
lastly, uh how can you not be excited to
9:07
play in this environment when you you're
9:09
out there at the game? And I mean, even
9:12
the national anthem tonight was, you
9:13
know, high level, right? you guys. I
9:16
mean that was so um that we they were
9:20
ready in the national anthem and or even
9:22
before I should say but uh I think
9:24
that's what makes this place special is
9:26
the environment students and I thought
9:29
the crowd it felt like most of the crowd
9:31
was standing the whole game and and that
9:33
that makes for a special uh atmosphere.
9:37
>> Go ahead. Um, I realize anytime you win
9:39
an ACC outright title, it's going to be,
9:41
you know, exciting. But this year, by
9:43
all the metrics, by, you know, coaches
9:46
descriptions, the league was regarded
9:48
much better this year to start, you
9:49
know, with Nets and everything. I'm
9:51
curious, is there any added
9:53
satisfaction, I guess, in that regard
9:54
that you guys basically took care of
9:56
business in the league when it was up as
9:58
opposed to maybe last year when people
9:59
said it wasn't as good?
10:00
>> Yeah, I mean, I'm proud of both years.
10:03
You know, I think both years, you know,
10:05
we did something really special as far
10:06
as this year goes. I mean, there's no
10:08
question the league is elevated. I mean,
10:10
there's no question, right? I mean, the
10:12
metrics would tell you that. Uh, the
10:14
number of teams we're going to get in
10:15
the tournament, uh, will tell you that.
10:17
And then I think, uh, we've really been
10:19
tested, you know, in different ways.
10:21
And, you know, we've won by bigger
10:23
margins, you know, down the stretch
10:24
here. But I think we've learned
10:26
something each game. Uh, each, uh, the
10:29
new coaches in the league have really
10:30
added, you know, good value. I think the
10:33
investment that programs made uh
10:35
financially has made a big difference.
10:38
Uh and so for us, this is where we want
10:40
to be. You know, it's a little it's hard
10:43
to say each year with unbalanced
10:45
schedule. I think that's something
10:46
ultimately we have to figure out. I
10:47
mean, the 18 games was great to get a
10:50
couple big time non-conference games. I
10:51
think that's good for the sport. But
10:53
yeah, I'm incredibly proud of our guys
10:55
and uh 17-1, 29-2 with the schedule
10:58
we've played. Uh if you would have told
11:00
me that before the season, I would have
11:02
told you, you know, that's that's not
11:03
going to happen. I mean, that's we
11:05
didn't make this schedule to go 29 and
11:07
two. So, I'm incredibly proud of our
11:09
guys.
11:11
>> Um Katie and Sloan were talking in the
11:12
locker room about how much of a leader
11:14
and a mentor Malik has been for them. In
11:16
what ways did you see that from him
11:17
today, especially on such an emotional
11:19
standing?
11:20
>> Well, Malik is u u as unselfish of a of
11:25
a guy I've ever coached. He's also as
11:28
competitive as as a player I've ever
11:30
coached. What he did last year uh when
11:32
he dislocated his shoulder twice to come
11:36
back in and play through it was one of
11:38
the toughest things I've ever seen a guy
11:40
do. Uh and he was out the whole summer
11:42
because of it. He comes back, you know,
11:44
he's dealing with a little knee injury,
11:46
wasn't able to practice. He he was not
11:48
in his best form. He's just coming into
11:50
his best form. And uh you know, I
11:53
thought tonight was an example of how
11:54
good he is on the floor. But for me,
11:56
it's more the person, uh, the teammate.
12:00
Um,
12:01
he's, uh, he's been incredible for us.
12:04
>> All right, we got the last question from
12:05
a special guest here tonight.
12:08
>> Oh, yeah. This is All right. You should
12:11
get the last question. Don't let Zubc
12:12
try to steal the mic from you. All
12:14
right. [laughter]
12:15
>> You excelled in many different areas on
12:18
the stat sheet tonight, but if you could
12:19
pinpoint one specific stat or aspect,
12:21
what do you think truly made the
12:23
difference tonight?
12:25
Ava, for me it was it was rebounding,
12:28
you know, the the rebounding made all
12:29
the difference. 42 to 29, 18 offensive
12:32
rebounds without Pat. Um I I think
12:36
there's just uh a toughness there that
12:39
we've developed in an effort and in a
12:42
focus really to consistently do that.
12:44
And uh I think it's no coincidence if
12:47
you look at the rebounding in the first
12:48
half, they outrebounded us. Second half,
12:51
we outrebounded them by a wide margin.
12:54
And uh that's how we got separation. So
12:56
for me it was uh the effort plays to get
12:59
the ball.
13:00
>> The best question.
13:01
>> Best question of the night. No offense
13:02
to anybody else. That was the best
13:04
question.