Duke basketball player tags two coaches as top smack-talkers

Apparently, Duke basketball staff members often crow, though deservedly so.

Duke basketball junior wing Joey Baker may have to pay the price for his recent comment about a pair of assistants, perhaps in the form of some extra sprints and up-downs after practice.

Yet not likely.

Besides, what Baker said about associate head coach Jon Scheyer and director of basketball operations Nolan Smith might just be a spot-on observation from one of the few veterans currently in Durham, one who should be a prime candidate to be a team captain (still no word on when the program will name the leader(s) for the 2020-21 Blue Devils).

Furthermore, chances are Scheyer and Smith wouldn’t even try to deny the shared title that Baker gave them during the latest installment of Duke Blue Planet (full episode below):

“Biggest smack-talker, probably Scheyer and Nolan.”

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What does seem probable is Scheyer and Smith are purposefully boastful around their pupils, particularly in regards to the national championship they captured together as Duke basketball stars in 2010. Surely, the former tough-minded combo guards aim to get under the skin of the youngins a smidge, in an effort to challenge them to hang a banner of their own this season.

But are they bigger smack-talkers than some of the Duke basketball players?

Understandably, Baker was the only Blue Devil bold enough to label any coaches as the best at beating their own chest.

According to grad transfer big man Patrick Tapé, the crown belongs to freshman power forward Henry Coleman. Meanwhile, Coleman contended the honor goes to sophomore small forward Wendell Moore; that said, after the interviewer informed Coleman of a common answer from his teammates, the chiseled competitor was quick to giggle in agreement:

“Yeah, it probably is me. That one probably is me.”

Another power forward received quite a few votes, though, in sophomore Matthew Hurt. One came from Moore. A second came from freshman center Mark Williams:

“Oh, Matt Hurt does talk a little [expletive].”

Unlike Coleman, however, Hurt didn’t appear to subscribe to that self-assessment, but just the same, he did laugh while responding to the accusation:

“Wait, what?”

Of course, all the friendly banter and chuckles are a sign of growing camaraderie. And the growing camaraderie is a sign that Scheyer, Smith, Baker, Tapé, Coleman, Moore, Hurt, Williams, and the rest of the bunch are on track to hang banners they can revel in collectively.

Their season tips off on Nov. 25 at home against Gardner-Webb, one of 27 games on tap for Duke in the regular season. The plan, obviously, is for their season not to end until they earn a confetti party in Indianapolis on April 5.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball news and views.