What Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer Had to Say About Michigan State…Read More….

What Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer Had to Say About Michigan State…Read More…

DURHAM, N.C. — As Duke prepares for one of its most anticipated non-conference matchups of the season, head coach Jon Scheyer didn’t mince words about the challenge ahead when discussing Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans. In his Monday media availability, Scheyer spoke with a blend of respect, urgency, and unmistakable competitive fire — all hallmarks of a rivalry that has produced some of the most memorable battles in modern college basketball.

“You always know what you’re getting with Michigan State — toughness, physicality, discipline, and forty minutes where you cannot relax for a single possession,” Scheyer began. “Tom Izzo’s teams don’t beat themselves. You have to take the game from them.”

Scheyer, now in his third season at the helm for Duke, emphasized that Michigan State’s record never tells the full story. “People look at early losses and think something’s wrong. No,” he said firmly. “They challenge themselves every year. By January and February, they’re one of the hardest teams in the country to guard. And honestly — they’re already playing like that now.”

Praise for Izzo and the Spartan Identity

Scheyer had high praise for Izzo’s leadership, calling him “one of the sport’s gold standards” when it comes to culture and consistency. “There’s a reason they’re in the tournament every year and a reason they’ve been in so many late March runs. Their habits are elite,” he said. “You watch them on film, and it’s the details — their rebounding positioning, the way their guards fight through screens, the pace they run the floor with. That’s coaching.”

The Duke coach specifically highlighted Michigan State’s trademark transition game, calling it “as dangerous as any in college basketball” and noting that the Spartans “punish teams that jog back.” He added, “This is a game where our communication on defense has to be the best it’s been all season.”

Duke’s Mindset Heading Into the Clash

When asked what the Blue Devils must do to compete with a team as physically demanding as the Spartans, Scheyer didn’t hesitate: “We have to match that intensity — and then some.”

He noted that Duke has grown defensively over the last two weeks but emphasized that the upcoming game would reveal how far the group has come. “You can talk about toughness. You can drill it. But Michigan State forces you to show it. Every possession is a test.”

Scheyer also pointed to the importance of limiting second-chance points, calling it “non-negotiable” if Duke wants to control momentum. “If you let them get extra possessions, they make you pay. And emotionally, it lifts their bench. Rebounding is going to be a war.”

A Game With March Stakes in December

Though the matchup will take place early in the season, Scheyer acknowledged the unmistakable weight of the showdown. “Anytime Duke and Michigan State step on the court, it feels like a March game,” he said. “The fanbases know the history. The players feel it. It’s great for college basketball.”

Scheyer ended with a message that previewed a fierce, high-level contest: “We respect them a ton. But we’re coming to compete. These are the games you come to Duke for.”