Duke coach Jon Scheyer defended the advancement of the program following a disappointing loss in the Elite Eight that left many fans disheartened.
Scheyer’s Blue Devils were defeated 76-64 by NC State on Sunday, a letdown in a game where Duke held a six-point lead at halftime. Despite this setback, Scheyer remained optimistic about the program’s direction, highlighting that reaching the Final Four wasn’t assured even during his playing days under Mike Krzyzewski.
“Where does our program stand? I believe our program is in an exceptionally strong position,” Scheyer conveyed to reporters, “We were just 20 minutes away from securing a spot in the Final Four in our second year. I don’t back away from our aspirations or objectives, but right now, my focus is on empathizing with these players. It’s a tough loss.
“I’ve always drawn motivation from the challenges I faced during my time at Duke. Some of the most heart-wrenching moments of my career occurred here. We didn’t reach the Sweet 16 until my junior year. It wasn’t until my senior year that we made it to the Final Four and won the national championship.”
On one side, Scheyer has shown promise as a young coach succeeding a legendary figure like Krzyzewski. Despite exiting in the second round last year, the team reached the Elite Eight this year, and Scheyer has consistently attracted top-notch recruiting classes. There’s no indication that the program is at risk of a decline.
However, Duke had a significant opportunity to defeat a less formidable NC State team and advance to the Final Four, but they were clearly outplayed in the second half. This outcome will disappoint supporters, many of whom will view it as a squandered chance.
