Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Puts Coach K's Early Record to Shame

Jon Scheyer is the winningest 50-game Duke basketball head coach in history.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
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On Saturday night, in a 67-59 road victory over Notre Dame that extended the Duke basketball winning streak to six, Jon Scheyer became only the ninth 50-game head coach of the Blue Devils. His 38-12 record puts him atop that group, three more wins than second-best Vic Bubas at the same juncture in his storied tenure (1959-69).

Scheyer's first Duke basketball team as head coach included only two returning scholarship players. Now, in his second season on the throne, the 36-year-old and reigning ACC Tournament title leader has still never lost more than two games in a row, and he's lost two in a row only twice.

Mike Krzyzewski's record at this stage in 1982? 26-24.

Sure, Scheyer, who helped power the Blue Devils to the 2010 national title as a senior guard and was an assistant for Duke's 2015 champs, inherited the brand that Krzyzewski took to new levels across his 42 years at the helm.

Remember, though, Coach K inherited a program that played for the national championship two years prior. Plus, his first team (1980-81) had a three-time All-ACC performer and Duke great in Gene Banks, not to mention two of the other top-four scorers from the 1979-80 squad (24-9 record) in Vince Taylor and Kenny Dennard.

In other words, even by Duke standards and despite the unfair expectations that have come with succeeding a five-time national champion, Jon Scheyer is acing the test.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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