Duke basketball players notice new confidence in Jon Scheyer

The Duke basketball players have noticed a new confidence in head coach Jon Scheyer. 

Things are much more comfortable in Durham entering the second season under Jon Scheyer and the Duke basketball players are noticing it.

The Blue Devils return four starters from last year’s team in Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell, and Kyle Filipowski, and they were all asked about the difference since last summer under the leadership of Scheyer during a press conference on Wednesday.

“He’s really confident in himself and the team he has, his coaching staff, and what our goals are for this year,” Filipowski said.

“We’re already planning on playing a lot faster this year and a little bit differently, and he’s doing a great job of already taking action on that route.”

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Scheyer helped lead Duke to an ACC Tournament Championship last season after rattling off a 10-game winning streak before its season came to an end in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s not like he didn’t look like a head coach last year, but… he was definitely feeling things out, like anyone would. But you know he’s going full steam ahead right now and that’s great to have in a head coach,” Filipowski added.

Duke basketball head coach ready for major expectations

Duke, with its returning players and highly touted freshmen, is expected to be a Top-3 team in the Associated Press Preseason Top-25 Poll and many have pegged the Blue Devils as one of the favorites to win the National Championship.

“You could tell that he was kind of feeling it out, asking a lot of questions relying on his staff,” returning center Ryan Young said of Jon Scheyer’s mentality last year.

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Scheyer saw Amile Jefferson leave his coaching staff this offseason to join the Boston Celtics in a similar role and hired former Duke standout William Avery as an assistant coach.

Jai Lucas was also promoted to an associate head coaching role, joining Chris Carrawell, as there is still one vacancy to fill on the Blue Devil staff.

“This year he’s a little bit more demonstrative with it. Just looks like he’s feeling a little more comfortable second time around,” Young continued.