Blue Devil Country

Jon Scheyer Says Three Duke Basketball Assistants 'Are Head Coaches'

There's no shortage of leaders on the Duke basketball bench.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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Both SMU and Pitt were undefeated in ACC play before facing Jon Scheyer's streaking Duke basketball squad. Their records didn't faze the No. 4-ranked Blue Devils (13-2, 5-0 ACC), who won at SMU, 89-62, on Saturday before delivering a 76-47 destruction of Pitt on Tuesday night.

ALSO READ: Son of Former All-Star Hears From Duke

Now, one could argue that Saturday's win in Dallas, with Scheyer back home in Durham recovering from an illness at the time, kicked the Blue Devils' dominance up yet another notch.

Apparently, the team's brilliant effort without Scheyer came as no surprise to the third-year head coach due to the confidence he has in his primary assistants: associate head coach Chris Carrawell, who acted as head coach against SMU, Jai Lucas, who arrived in Durham for the start of the Scheyer era, and second-year staff member Emanuel Dildy.

Fast Break with Coach Scheyer - 1/8/25

Fast Break with Coach Scheyer - 1/8/25

Posted by Duke Men's Basketball on Wednesday, January 8, 2025

"Watching Chris, he took amazing control right away at the team," the 37-year-old Duke basketball leader, whose in-sync bunch is now riding a nine-game winning streak, said during the latest episode of Fast Break with Coach Scheyer on Wednesday night. "And then, seeing Emanuel, Jai, and him just from afar even, you can tell just the connectivity that those guys had, the game-planning.

"You know, Jai just took over the entire defense. And look, us having the No. 1 defense, Jai, the three years he's been here with me, I mean, we've had a top 20 defense each year, and this year it's taken and gone to another level.

"But those guys are head coaches. It's just a matter of opportunity and timing and all that, but I'm lucky to have them as my coaches because they're the best. Honestly, they are."

Jon Scheyer and his trusted crew are now getting the Blue Devils ready for a home game against Notre Dame (7-8, 1-3 ACC) at noon ET Saturday (ESPN).

ALSO READ: Blue Devils Dominating Like It's 1999

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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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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