By: Jeremy Wilson
December 7, 2023
There have been missed lay ups and free throws, poor ball movement, poor shooting performances, slow starts and tough losses. It's caused frustration amongst the staff, players and fans. But this team is still a title contender. They just haven't looked the part during the first month of the season. This is still Duke, and I have reason to believe they will be fine.
Here are my top ten thoughts on Duke so far and why I’m not worried.
1.) Leadership
We celebrated when first year head coach Jon Scheyer convinced four starters to return, demonstrating his ability to maintain the team's core strength.
Duke returned its four leading scorers (Filipowski, Roach, Proctor and Mitchell) for the first time since the 1985-86 season.
2.) Recruiting Success
Scheyer continues to secure star-studded recruiting classes, and that deserves applause. His prowess as a recruiter, honed under the tutelage of Mike Krzyzewski, is evident.
No. 1 rated class in 2022, including top-5 commits Dereck Lively II, Dariq Whitehead and Kyle Filipowski. This year's freshman class is the No. 2 rated class, and Duke has landed both the No. 1 class and player (Cooper Flagg) for 2024 already.
3.) Experience Matters
Nearly 500 games under Coach K gave Scheyer the best on the job learning a budding coach could ask for. Few of his peers had similar opportunities.
Before he even took over as head coach, Scheyer often spoke to the team during timeouts prior to Coach K. Not to mention, he learned leadership, motivation and relationship building from one of the all-time best. Ask nearly any member of The Brotherhood, and they will all say that Coach K is like a second father to them.
4.) Building a Strong Coaching Staff
Scheyer has assembled a talented coaching staff with a great blend of experience and youth among the assistants, associates and the head coach himself.
Many of on staff were top assistants or associates for other programs. Jai Lucas (assistant - Kentucky), Emmanuel Dildy (assistant - Oklahoma), Chris Carrawell (assistant - Marquette and Duke under Coach K) and Mike Schrage (head coach - Elon).
5.) Early Season Losses
It's important to remember that Scheyer is only in his second year as head coach. The last time Duke faced three losses this early in the season was during Coach K's first three years as head coach. Growth and development take time for teams, players and coaches.
6.) Social Media Isn't the Culprit
Blaming social media for the team's three losses is misguided. Today's generation is well-acquainted with social media. This generation’s identity – all generations have them – is connection. Making a TikTok in an ice bath isn’t replacing anything. They are in the ice bath recovering from a workout and making a video.
7.) Challenges of a Star-Studded Team
Duke may boast a lineup of stars, but every team goes through four stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing.
Currently, they are in the storming phase, i.e., adjusting to each other. It's possible that the honeymoon period has worn off. It happens to all teams, groups, friends, relationships – it happens. Stars shine bright and so do the talented players in Durham. Let them figure each other out in the locker room, and let them keep it there. Anyone that has been on a team knows the sacredness of the team’s locker room. And when you play at Duke, you don’t have ANY other place where you can be 100% real, show your true emotions, vent, pout or let frustration out. They can't uphold that sacred space of the locker room if everything that happens is dissected and trending on social media.
8.) Need for Fan Support
The players need the unwavering support of their fans. It's important to remember that they are young men, many living away from home for the first time, facing heavy expectations. Cheer loud for them. Be a fair critic. Speak of them as you would want others to speak of your children. They see the chatter and harshness, and so do recruits. Be the best online Cameron Crazie you can be.
9.) The Coaching Staff Knows About the Issues
Some Duke fans have pointed out that the fixes are easy. If we see them, so does the coaching staff. Imagine having the problem of figuring out line ups and minutes with that many stars and that much depth. Let’s be honest, that’s much harder than it sounds. And going from THE man on a team to being ONE of the men is a whole other adjustment. X's and O's mixed in with a storming team is tough, but 100% fixable.
10.) Jon Scheyer
Duke alum and two-time National Champion, Jonathan James Scheyer, was Coach K’s pick. Krzyzewski didn’t just select his coaching successor, he selected who he was handing the program to – the dynasty, the elite, the global recognition, the NBA pipeline – everything that Coach K built.
This job could have gone to anyone that Coach K named. He picked a fellow son of Chicago, as he did when he recruited him, drew up plays for him and, ultimately, brought him back on his staff.
Duke will be fine and Jon Scheyer is HIM. Breathe. And get ready, because here comes Duke.
Jeremy Wilson | @theJeremyDavid
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