Quotes & Notes - December 10
vs. Charlotte
After every game I always watch the press conference, read the quotes, and study the box score. Quotes & Notes is my wrap-up of Duke’s most recent game(s).
Quotes
“First of all, I'm proud of the response that our team had. Our program is about, not necessarily being perfect, but it is about competition. It’s about competing. It’s about responding. In the last two games last week, we weren't good enough; that means all of us coaches, players, that includes everybody, staff. So, for us, this week was about getting back to work, blocking out anything else outside of our locker room, and taking accountability for what we all have to do better. I thought we had the best week of practice we have had so far this year. The competition was great; going at each other, making each other better. These last few days in preparation for Charlotte, who we have a ton of respect for, if you look at them, statistically and you looked at them not knowing, they’re an ACC team. All their players have either played in Power 5 level, or they are Power 5 players. The main focus for us was our defense and that is what we talked about. I know our offense hasn’t been as good, but it is because we are thinking about it too much. So, I love the collective effort on the defensive end, and of course, when you do that, you end up having the most points you've scored in the first half all year. Because you’re just sharing and you are focusing on just giving it everything you have.”
- Coach Scheyer on the response vs. Charlotte
“You don’t practice just where it shows up for the next game, you have to take a step each day. Especially the last couple of weeks, you’re playing so many games, you’re not having contact as much in practice, which I take responsibility for; I have to make sure we still do it even if it's on a short turnaround because it showed with how we played today. There is a physicality that we play with. I don’t know if we have been the most confident team with how we played, and preparation always leads to confidence. So, we have just emphasized, not on the result of winning and losing, but really the process of how you have to prepare mentally, physically and then good things are going to happen when you do that.”
- Coach Scheyer on Duke’s week of practice
“I feel bad for any player in the country, but especially our guys, where it’s like they’re not allowed to fail or they’re not allowed to have an off game - it’s not like they’re trying to have an off game, it’s learning what it takes….you lose twice - not okay with me, not okay with him or anybody, but to do it for a fan or to do it for the people online, that can never be what it’s about….I’m proud for him, I’m proud for all these guys. Look, I’ll say this, we’re better today because we went through what we did last week - we are, I promise you 100%. That doesn’t mean I’m okay with the two losses, that doesn’t mean I’m happy with what happened. I want to be better without having to go through something but, for this team, there's a reason we went through this at the start of the year. It’s been challenging and telling, and I’ve learned a lot about the character of the guys we have on the team.”
- Coach Scheyer on Jared McCain and the team dealing with negativity from fans
Stats
Duke used their most efficient three-point shooting game of the season so far (1.67 pps) to put up 45 first half points, also a season-high to this point. The Blue Devils played with good pace offensively, outscoring Charlotte 17-7 in fast break points while assisting on 15 of 24 made field goals (62.5%) for the game. Despite the offensive rebounding numbers being essentially even, Duke gained a 12-4 advantage in second chance points.
Notes
Just quickly, regarding the last quote I included from Coach Scheyer. I do not keep up with the discourse on social media, so I can’t speak to what specifically has been said over the last week about Jared or any of the guys, and I also believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. So, here’s mine: if you’re a “Duke fan” blasting an 18-year old kid online for missing shots in a basketball game, you’re not a fan at all. I recommend taking a step back and thinking a little more about the decision to do that. Again, say what you want but, to me, that’s not what a real fan should do.
In Case You Missed It: Coach Scheyer welcomed Manny Diaz, new head football coach at Duke, into the locker room after the game. Diaz comes to Durham after serving as DC at Penn State, leading the 2023 Nittany Lions to the #1 defense in the country in yards allowed per game (223.20). During his introductory press conference, Diaz said “I hear words like galvanize. I hear words like people wanting to come together. Okay, so I've got all this in mind, and I think back, and I think of someone who I learned a lot from, and who was a mentor to me, David Cutcliffe. When I was a head coach in the ACC and we're on all the coaches calls and I saw the success that he had here. And then obviously, what Mike Elko did and the energy that he brought to this program and the wins the past couple of years, all these things go into play, right? But then it's ultimately got to be about the young men in the locker room. There's something about Duke. And as a collaborator, even though you're all here to hear me talk, I'm here to listen. I want to know what makes Duke special.” Congrats to Coach Diaz and his family, I’m already pumped to visit Wallace Wade next season.
Next Play: Tuesday Dec 12 | 7:00 pm ESPN2 | Duke welcomes Hofstra to Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Thanks for reading, Go Duke!
Sources