Jon Scheyer’s first season with the Duke basketball program may never be matched.
The toughest job in college basketball was supposed to be the person who followed Mike Krzyzewski as the head coach of the Duke basketball program.
Jon Scheyer has not only admirably replaced the Hall of Famer, but he has exceeded expectations.
Scheyer became the first person to ever win the ACC Tournament as a player and a head coach after the Blue Devils topped Virginia, 59-49, in Greensboro on Saturday night while becoming just the third rookie coach (Bill Guthridge, Vic Bubas) to ever win the league championship in his first season.
“Proud to join that group, two great coaches,” Scheyer said following the game.
“It’s a credit to these guys just sticking with me and sticking with our staff.”
Duke’s victory extended its winning streak to nine games, after dropping back-to-back contests against Miami and Virginia in early February, and saw its head coach become the winningest first-year head coach in the school’s history.
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Scheyer, despite not receiving a single vote for ACC Coach of the Year, also capped off a perfect season inside Cameron Indoor Stadium (16-0), becoming the first person in ACC history go unbeaten at home in his first year as a head coach.
The feat marked the first time since 2013-14 in which the Blue Devils were perfect in Durham.
“It was a surreal feeling,” Scheyer said of standing on the stage and receiving the ACC Championship trophy.
“ believed in us and in me, and obviously I felt that way about each of them.”
“To share that together, going through this for the first time, and for the regular season to end this way with winning the tournament championship is really special.”
The achievements and records that Jon Scheyer reached in his first season as a head coach may never be topped for a long time and the Blue Devils are hoping that he can continue his historic inaugural campaign for at least a few more weeks.