Over at The News & Observer, Steve Wiseman has penned a column discussing Duke’s impressive eight-game win streak and the consequential impact it carries. The team’s evident growth has caught the attention of coach Jon Scheyer, who expressed his admiration for the players’ mental fortitude. Scheyer emphasized the team’s development in both physical and mental toughness, highlighting their resilience.
Drawing parallels with the previous season, there seems to be a familiar pattern where Duke started off somewhat inconsistently before finding their rhythm later in the season. It raises the possibility that this might be a recurring characteristic of Scheyer’s coaching style. Such a trend wouldn’t be unprecedented, as other coaches have experienced similar situations with their teams.
It appears that the scenario at Duke under Jon Scheyer might resemble the annual trend experienced by Tom Izzo at Michigan State, where the team typically starts slowly but becomes a formidable contender by March. While not an exact analogy, the notion of taking a few weeks to find their rhythm could become a defining characteristic of Scheyer’s tenure at Duke.
In a mix of unfortunate and positive updates, both Mark Mitchell and Jeremy Roach are dealing with knee injuries. However, according to Scheyer, neither injury is deemed particularly serious. With upcoming games against Pitt at home and Louisville on the road, facing a bit of adversity at this juncture may have its silver lining. While these matchups are by no means guaranteed wins, navigating them without Mitchell and Roach, if necessary, might be preferable compared to facing teams like UNC, Miami, or Clemson under similar circumstances.
