Duke basketball: Coach K is playing mind games with Jalen Johnson
By Matt Giles
The first mind game the Duke basketball staff played with Jalen Johnson…
Guarded hype
From the time the freshmen moved to Durham in August to the first game on Nov. 28, Mike Krzyzewski barely mentioned Jalen Johnson in his talks to the media. In fact, across one lengthy October press conference, the Hall of Fame head coach praised many newbies but never brought up the name of the only Blue Devil who would end up on the Preseason All-ACC First Team.
Comparing this “silent treatment” to the program’s seven previous preseasons, it’s clear that Krzyzewski never went one chat without touching on eventual premier one-and-done talents Vernon Carey Jr., Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Marvin Bagley III, Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram, Jahlil Okafor, and Jabari Parker.
Similarly, while Duke basketball associate head coach Jon Scheyer did speak about the current roster’s most heralded rookie in his own October presser, the former Blue Devil guard came across as guarded — perhaps as an indirect “mind game” challenge — in his Johnson hype:
“No question he’s got the ability and the talent. I think Jalen is just figuring it out because he can do so many things…I think his thing is just figuring out ‘What’s my core? What’s my base? What are my go-to’s?’…That’s something for him to work on. He’s going to be a guy that can play everywhere for us, really, but I think we need to just help him find out…”
This brings us to the “help” that Coach K and his cohorts have given Johnson in the past two games…