Jon Scheyer, the head coach at Duke, was the subject of serious NBA buzz this offseason, with the Dallas Mavericks reaching out for “exploratory” conversations about their open coaching job. But Scheyer, who coached current Mavs star Cooper Flagg at Duke, ultimately chose to stick with the Blue Devils despite the interest from the pros. Talk about a statement!
“Not Seeing This Thing Through”: Scheyer’s Why
Dude, Scheyer straight up said on the Glue Guys Podcast that he “wouldn’t be able to live with myself not seeing this thing through.” That’s the bottom line for him. He called Duke a “one-of-one place” and his “dream job” at 33, emphasizing that there’s “so much left to do” and “so much left to accomplish.” And let’s not forget the family angle; for Scheyer, Durham is home. The Mavericks ended up nabbing Dusty May from Michigan, who’d just won the national title, after also exploring Scheyer. But for Scheyer, it wasn’t about the NBA’s highest level, it was about finishing what he started with his guys.
The Unfinished Business at Duke
It’s easy to see why Scheyer feels like there’s unfinished business. He’s entering his fifth season, and his record is a wild 124-25, including three Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four run in 2025. But Duke hasn’t cut down the nets for a national title since 2015, back when Scheyer was an assistant. The last two seasons have been brutal, too. In 2025, they blew a 13-point lead with under nine minutes left against Houston in the national semifinals. Then, in 2026, UConn’s Braylon Mullins hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final second, sending them to the Final Four and ending Duke’s season after they’d led by as many as 19 points. Ouch. That stings, big time.
Duke is already ranked No. 2 behind Florida in Gary Parrish’s CBS Sports Top 25 and 1, and for good reason. They’re bringing back serious talent like Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, Patrick Ngongba II, and Caleb Foster. Plus, they snagged former Wisconsin star John Blackwell from the transfer portal. Scheyer clearly believes this squad has what it takes, and he’s not wrong. They’re definitely one of the top favorites to win it all in Detroit next spring. Can Scheyer finally lead his alma mater to that elusive title? All eyes will be on Duke to see if he can fulfill that “unfinished business.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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