Why Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer Should Be Considered A Coach Of The Year Candidate

Recently,

I was reading, viewing an article by The Field Of 68 on Coach Of The Year Power Rankings by Jeff Goodman!

The power rankings include Fred Hionberg who is the Head Coach Of Nebraska who’s team has a record of 20-1 overall is 9-1 in Big Ten. Nebraska just took it to Michigan down two of their best players and proved to the country, even in a loss, that they can compete with anyone. We’re talking about a team picked 14th in the Big Ten preseason media poll potentially cutting down nets. Hoiberg is our top candidate because of that. Tommy Lloyd who is Head Coach of Arizona who has a record 21-0 overall while they’re 8-0 in the Big 12 Conference.

Tommy Lloyd decided to bank on five-star freshman and international prospects to build around his core of Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka instead of turning to the transfer portal. He and his staff’s evaluations have paid off in a big way, and it’s hard to have the man orchestrating America’s consensus No. 1 team down the list any further.

Travis Steele who is the Head Coach of Miami who is 21-0 overall is 9-0 in Mid American Athletic ConferenceSteele has the Redhawks off to its best start in school history and the best start in the history of the MAC. There’s been some close calls along the way, but there’s something to be said about always coming out on top.

Dusty May who is Head Coach of Michigan has a record of 19-1 overall is 9-1 in the Big Ten The Wolverines have looked unstoppable at times with a 40 point win over a likely No. 2 seed in Gonzaga, not to mention several other blowouts. May has also found a way to create one of the nation’s most efficient offenses playing three bigs.

Bill Self who is the Head Coach of Kansas has a record of 15-5 overall is 5-2 in the Big 12 Self’s star freshman Darryn Peterson has been in and out of the lineup, yet the Jayhawks are still right there in the Big 12 race and have a chance at a protected seed in the NCAA Tournament if they continue to play well.

Josh Schwartz who is Head Coach of St. Louis has a record 20-1 overall is 8-0 in the Atlantic 10 he has St. Louis Schertz has Saint Louis rolling, and if it weren’t for Stanford’s unlikely buzzer beater back in November, we could be talking about the Billikens potentially running the table.

Brad Brownell who is Head Coach of Clemson who has a record of 17-4 overall is 7-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference Nobody expected Clemson to be competing for an ACC title this season, yet alone second or third place. The Tigers are right there in the mix. Brownell has done a phenomenal job with a veteran team.

Mark Byington who is Head Coach of Vanderbilt who has a record of 18-3 overall is 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference The Commodores have been as high as No. 5 on Kenpom and were undefeated before losing three-straight in conference play, but that’s nothing to be ashamed of in a league as good as the SEC. Byington’s group blew out Kentucky this week, and they still look like contenders for the SEC crown after being picked 11th preseason.

TJ Otzelberger who is Head Coach of Iowa State has a record of 18-2 overall 5-2 in the Big 12 The Cyclones have one of the most impressive wins of the season, handing Purdue its largest margin of defeat in Mackey Arena history. The returners Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcillovic have been as advertised, by the pieces Otz put around them like freshman Killyan Toure has elevated this team into a title contender.

Mark Few who is Head Coach of Gonzaga who has a record of 21-1 overall is 9-0 in West Coast Conference Gonzaga’s only stumbled once this season to Michigan, and the Bulldogs have a good chance of running the table the rest of the way. Few also didn’t back down from anyone in the non-conference.

Though,

One Head Coach that isn’t on Jeff Goodman’s list of Coach Of The Year candidates that isn’t on the list is Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer because Jon Scheyer took over a program who’s Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski retired following 2021-2022 season following haven won 1,129 games as Head Coach of Duke including five National Championships.

I would say that is a pretty tall task!

Jon Scheyer has been nothing but phenomenal in taking over the Duke program from Mike Krzyzewski . Jon Scheyer is currently in 4th season as Duke’s Head Coach where he has an overall record of 108 -23 has won 1 regular season title won the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament twice has had 3 NCAA Tournament appearances 1 Final Four appearance in 2025 where Duke lost to Houston 70-67 in San Antonio where his team as he stated was boys among men Because offensively they scored 1 field goal in the games final 10 minutes!

As a team Duke shot 39.6 % on field goals , 41.2 on 3 pointers!

Freshman Cooper Flagg freshman Kon Knueppel were the only players to score in double figures!

Cooper Flagg was 8-19 on field goals , 3-4 on 3 pointers , 8-8 on free throws to go along with 7 rebounds , 4 assists , 2 steals , 3 blocks, 27 points.

Kon Knueppel was 5-9 on field goals , 3-5 on 3 pointers , 3-3 on free throws to go along 7 rebounds, 2 assists , 16 points.

Following 1 seed Duke’s 70-67 loss to 1 seed Houston Duke freshman guard Kon Knueppel who was 5-9 on field goals , 3-5 on 3 pointers to go along with 7 rebounds , 2 assists, 16 points had this to say about 1 seed Houston!

They’re a really good defensive team . I didn’t think we were sharp the last whatever it was 10 minutes . I didn’t think we were as sharp on our execution as we had been the first 10 minutes of second half . Tip our hats they’re a really good defensive team.

Following 1 seed Duke’s 70-67 loss to 1 seed Houston Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer had this to say about his teams loss in Final Four!

It’s heartbreaking . It’s incredibly disappointing. There’s a lot of pain that comes with this . That’s what the tournament is all about . Your an inch away from the national championship game .

According Stephen Wiseman News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article303432351.html

Jon Scheyer’s 4th season as Duke Head Coach he has helped lead Duke so far to a 19-1 overall record while Duke is 8-0 leading the way in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings is ahead of Clemson in the standings who’s Head Coach Brad Brownell is on the list of Coach Of The Year Power Rankings. Duke beat Kansas, Head Coach Bill Self back on November 18, 2025. Duke was at full strength Tuesday night in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden!

Though,

I can’t say the same for Kansas because they were playing without Darryn Peterson who is freshman guard who has hamstring injury who on the season is averaging 21.5 points , 3.5 rebounds , 3.0 assists while shooting 60% who was ruled out before the game by Head Coach Bill Self by saying.

We’re not obviously gonna have him, at least for the immediate future. I just don’t know how long that’ll be.” Self said. “We’ve got some things to discuss, but he’s got tightness in his right hamstring. He’s getting the best treatment. He wants to be out there so bad, but I’m not gonna put him out there until he feels well.”

According to Jeff Goodman’s Field of 68 article https://www.on3.com/sites/field-of-68/news/kansas-darryn-peterson-out-champions-classic/

Cameron Boozer , Isaiah Evans , Patrick Ngongba scored 16, 13, 18 points, Duke beat Kansas 78-66 in Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden who was playing without Darryn Peterson.

Following Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba scoring 16, 13, 18, points beating Kansas 78-66 at Madison Square Garden who was playing without Darryn Peterson Cameron Boozer who is a freshman a forward was 7-17 on field goals , 1-4 on 3 pointers, 3-5 on free throws to go along with 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 18 points. Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore a guard was 5-11 on field goals , 3-3 on free throws 3-7 on 3 pointers to go along 4 rebounds, 3 assists . Patrick Ngongba II who is a sophomore a center was 4-4 on field goals 5-7 on free throws to go along with 7 rebounds, 2 assists.

As a team Duke was 27-58 on field goals for 47% 7-26 on 3 pointers for 27 % , 7-26 on free throws to go along with 41 rebounds 17 assists.

According to espnapp

Following Cameron Boozer , Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba scoring 16, 13, 18 points following Duke beating Kansas Tuesday night in Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden who was playing without Darryn Peterson Cam Boozer had this to say!

“A lot of people might say that because we’re a young team, we might be soft, we might not be ready for games like this,”

But I think we’ve shown that we are. Just through our toughness and our competitiveness. We’ve shown it in spurts every game. I don’t think we’ve put together a full 40 minutes of it yet, but when we do it’s going to be special.”

“I have to take what the defense gives me,“They were doubling me a lot in the first half and the second half they weren’t doubling me as much. So in the first half those passes were there, and in the second half I was able to be more aggressive.”

Following Cameron Boozer , Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba scoring 16, 13, 18 points following Duke beating Kansas Tuesday night in Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden who was playing without Darryn Peterson Isaiah Evans had this to say about hitting, making 3 pointer!

I noticed (Melvin) Council was stretched out across the 3-point line,”So I just stepped out a little farther.”

Following Cameron Boozer , Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba scoring 16, 13, 18 points following Duke beating Kansas Tuesday night in Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden who was playing without Darryn Peterson Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer had this to say about Isaiah Evans 3 pointer that he made as shot clock expired!

“Those aren’t easy situations to be in, especially if it’s your first time in the Garden like some of these guys, or if it’s your second or your third,

I thought especially down the stretch, some of those plays, we just showed great poise. It’s what it’s all about.

According to Luke Decock News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article312947913.html