Duke Blue Devils’ Jon Scheyer Snubbed in ACC Coach of the Year Voting: An In-Depth Look
In the world of college basketball, coaching accolades are often the highest form of recognition a coach can achieve. Every season, the battle for Coach of the Year honors is one of the most closely contested, as coaches lead their teams through a grueling schedule in search of success and, ultimately, championships. In the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), this honor is particularly coveted, as the league is known for its fierce competition, storied programs, and legendary coaches.
So when Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer, in his first season leading one of college basketball’s most prestigious programs, was notably absent from the list of finalists for the ACC Coach of the Year award, many were left scratching their heads. For a program with the legacy of Duke, it’s always a storyline when the Blue Devils make a strong push, but for Scheyer, this year represented much more than just a return to prominence—it was the beginning of his own legacy as a head coach.
The decision to exclude Scheyer from the conversation surrounding the ACC Coach of the Year award raised eyebrows across the college basketball landscape. How could a coach who took the reins of such a high-profile program after the legendary Mike Krzyzewski and led them to success be overlooked for an award given to a conference coach? Was this a case of the voting body overlooking the nuances of Scheyer’s accomplishments? Or was it a reflection of broader trends and preferences in the world of college basketball coaching awards?
This article will dive deep into Jon Scheyer’s first season as Duke’s head coach, analyze the reasons why he was snubbed in the ACC Coach of the Year voting, and explore the broader implications of this decision for both his career and the state of the ACC.
The Transition to Head Coach: The Weight of Expectations
Jon Scheyer’s appointment as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils was a historic moment for the program. After decades of dominance under Coach K, Scheyer, a former player and assistant coach at Duke, was chosen as the successor to a basketball legend. The expectations were understandably high, not only for him to maintain the Blue Devils’ elite status but also to usher in a new era with his own approach to the game.
Scheyer’s transition into the head coach role was far from ordinary. For starters, he was following in the footsteps of Coach K, whose retirement after the 2021-2022 season marked the end of an era in college basketball. The immense pressure of replacing a coach who had shaped the program for over four decades was undoubtedly challenging. However, Scheyer embraced the moment, bringing his knowledge, experience, and passion to the task at hand.
Despite the lofty expectations, Scheyer’s first season was largely viewed as a success. While Duke did not win the ACC title, they had a solid record, secured a high seed in the NCAA tournament, and showed immense growth as the season progressed. The Blue Devils were competitive against some of the top teams in the country and established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the ACC.
His ability to guide a young, talented roster with many fresh faces and new starters spoke volumes about his potential as a leader. Key players such as Kyle Filipowski, Tyrese Proctor, and Dariq Whitehead developed under Scheyer’s watch, making significant contributions to the Blue Devils’ success. Scheyer’s offensive and defensive schemes allowed Duke to play with a level of discipline and cohesion that belied their relatively inexperienced roster.
The real story of Scheyer’s first season, however, was how he managed to keep the Blue Devils competitive in an ever-evolving college basketball landscape. The ACC itself had undergone significant changes, with top teams like North Carolina, Virginia, and Miami all fighting for supremacy. Despite the increased competition, Duke remained a steady presence in the league, ending the regular season near the top of the standings.
The ACC Coach of the Year Race: A Competitive Landscape
The ACC Coach of the Year award is one of the most coveted honors in the college basketball world, and the 2022-2023 season was no exception. The conference was stacked with talented coaches, each of whom had guided their respective teams to impressive accomplishments.
Miami’s Jim Larrañaga was a strong contender for the award after leading the Hurricanes to a regular-season ACC title, a significant achievement for the program. Larrañaga’s leadership of Miami was nothing short of remarkable, especially considering the team’s underdog status at the start of the season. His ability to mold a balanced, high-powered offensive team that could compete with the best in the country made him a deserving candidate for the award.
Virginia’s Tony Bennett was also in the running. Bennett, known for his methodical and disciplined style of play, had once again guided Virginia to the top of the ACC standings. The Cavaliers’ defensive prowess and ability to execute in clutch moments were central to Bennett’s success as a coach, and his team’s consistent success over the years made him a perennial contender for the award.
Other notable coaches included Pittsburgh’s Jeff Capel, who helped turn around a struggling program and lead them to the NCAA tournament, and North Carolina’s Hubert Davis, who, despite facing some challenges, still managed to keep the Tar Heels competitive. All of these coaches had solid cases for the ACC Coach of the Year, but what about Scheyer?
Scheyer’s Snub: Why Was He Left Out?
Given the context of his first season, it’s difficult to ignore the question: Why was Jon Scheyer excluded from the list of finalists for ACC Coach of the Year?
Several factors might explain this snub, even if they don’t justify it.
1. The Shadow of Coach K
One of the most significant factors in Scheyer’s exclusion from the Coach of the Year conversation is the continued shadow of Coach K. Duke’s program has been synonymous with Krzyzewski’s leadership for decades, and the expectation was that Scheyer would seamlessly continue the Blue Devils’ dominance in college basketball. This high bar, while a testament to Krzyzewski’s legacy, may have inadvertently worked against Scheyer’s candidacy.
Scheyer’s first season was viewed by some as a necessary transition period—one that involved rebuilding and adjusting to a new era. While he did a commendable job, it’s possible that some voters felt that the success of the Blue Devils was simply to be expected given the wealth of talent on the roster and the institutional strength of the program. In this sense, the voters might have undervalued Scheyer’s accomplishments because of the belief that Duke was always going to be competitive, regardless of who was in charge.
2. The Success of Other Coaches
As mentioned earlier, the ACC was filled with talented coaches this season, and several programs outperformed expectations. Jim Larrañaga’s Miami team, which clinched the ACC regular-season title, was a major surprise, and Larrañaga’s ability to lead the Hurricanes to the top of the standings was a story that undoubtedly caught the attention of the voters. Similarly, Tony Bennett’s consistency at Virginia and Jeff Capel’s resurgence at Pittsburgh made it difficult for Scheyer to compete for the award, especially since Duke did not win the ACC title outright or finish as the conference’s top team.
3. Duke’s High Expectations
While Duke’s success under Scheyer was impressive, it was often overshadowed by the sky-high expectations that surrounded the program. Scheyer inherited a program loaded with talent, and while he did an excellent job developing that talent and leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA tournament, the media and fans often expected nothing less. The pressure to maintain Duke’s winning tradition, coupled with the narrative that Duke is expected to win at the highest level, may have diminished Scheyer’s chances of earning the Coach of the Year honors.
The Bigger Picture: The Future of Jon Scheyer and Duke
While Scheyer’s snub in the ACC Coach of the Year voting might have been disappointing, it should not overshadow the incredible work he has done in his first season as head coach. His leadership has set a solid foundation for the Blue Devils, and the program is poised for continued success in the years to come. The fact that Duke has remained competitive in a season of transition speaks volumes about Scheyer’s coaching acumen, and his ability to adjust to the demands of leading one of the most high-profile programs in the nation.
Looking ahead, Scheyer has the potential to not only lead Duke to ACC championships but also contend for national titles in the coming seasons. With a growing roster of talented players and the opportunity to build on his first season’s success, Scheyer is primed for future accolades and recognition.
In the broader landscape of college basketball, his snub might be seen as just a minor blip in what will ultimately be a successful career. If Scheyer continues to develop as a coach and lead Duke to greatness, the Coach of the Year award will likely be in his future, even if he didn’t win it in his first season.