Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer met with reporters Friday ahead of the Blue Devils’ Elite Eight showdown with the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday in the East Region final of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
No. 2 seed Alabama (28-8 overall) and No. 1 seed Duke (34-3) are set to tip off at 7:49 p.m. CT from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game will be televised on TBS and truTV.
The Crimson Tide ran over No. 6 seed BYU in a 113-88 blowout in the Sweet 16 on Thursday behind an NCAA Tournament record 25 3-pointers. That was also the most made 3-pointers in a single game in Alabama basketball history. Mark Sears led the Tide with 34 points, going 10-of-16 from beyond the arc.
Duke defeated No. 4 seed Arizona, 100-93, in the late tipoff Thursday with freshman sensation Cooper Flagg carrying the Blue Devils with 30 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Ahead of Alabama vs. Duke, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer spoke to the media in Newark Friday afternoon. Here’s a summarized version of his comments on facing the Crimson Tide.
Jon Scheyer opening statement ahead of Elite Eight showdown with Alabama
“I’ll be brief. I don’t have a lot new from last night. Just that I’m really proud of our team for what we did. Looking back, Arizona made some tough shots, made a great run, and I thought we learned a lot from last night.
“Alabama, clearly they’re a high-powered offense and a great team. We know it’s going to be a big-time game tomorrow. For me, being an Elite Eight game, it’s the toughest one. It’s the highest level. But for our team today, we’ll dive into them some more and I’ll let you guys ask these guys questions first. We couldn’t be more excited and ready and prepared for tomorrow.”
Scheyer on how to prepare for ‘relentless’ Alabama offense
A reporter noted that Duke had played in the late tipoff (9:39 p.m. ET) Thursday after Alabama’s game vs. BYU. Scheyer was asked about that, as well as how to prepare his players for the type of pace that Alabama wants to dictate Saturday.
“Obviously we’re really explosive in transition, as well, but we have to pick our spots, too. The recovery is tough. Our guys didn’t get back until about 2:00, 2:30 last night until it was all said and done with treatment and everything like that. Let them sleep in today, gave them an initial scout on Alabama, and we’ll have to do another deep dive tonight.
“And then it’s a good thing we have the late game. I’d rather have the late game after doing that last night. But knowing our guys, we’ll be rested. We’ll be recovered. We’ll be prepared. Playing three games in three days in the ACC Tournament is tougher than this. But obviously this is still a quick turnaround, and you’re playing against a team, like you said, they’re relentless. They’re relentless. They don’t stop trying to push the pace and push the tempo, so there can’t be any relaxing on our end.”
Scheyer on whether he believes SEC teams like Alabama are more battle-tested in the NCAA Tournament
“I think there’s — naturally, in anything, you can take — there’s positives and negatives to either thing. For us, there’s no question we’re prepared, and there’s no question they’re prepared. Playing different schedules, playing different opponents at different times of the year, they both prepare you in different ways. Of course you’re going to acknowledge, like, the year the SEC had with the credit that you get for those wins or some of the battles. Of course, Alabama has had a heck of a schedule. I feel we have, too, but it’s been different.
“I don’t think that gives (Alabama) any more of a leg up tomorrow based on conference or ACC, SEC. I’ve been in the ACC a long time. It’s always prepared us and had us ready, and this year is no exception in my mind.”
‘They’re pace jumps off the chart at you’: Scheyer on Alabama’s tempo and the fast turnaround after playing late Thursday
“Yeah, for me, my adrenaline was flowing last night, so I didn’t need anything else to drink or any coffee or anything like that. For me, it was literally right to Alabama, watching a ton of film on them. The watching staff was getting me up to date because they had been working ahead on them. Look, their pace jumps off the chart at you. They’re just both ends of the ball, too. Defensively they’ve been really good, as well, and you’re watching different games, and you’re up late.
“Being in this game last year, I know for me, this is — I was very thankful not to get much sleep last night. That’s the best thing, the best issue I could possibly have. Got a couple hours of sleep, woke up, did the same thing, watching them more. And tonight, I’ll make sure we get some sleep and all that. But it’s all about the preparation, and it’s an honor. That’s what you want to have. So I’m grateful not to get much rest.”
Scheyer on the potential impact of Isaiah Evans’ 3-point shot ability when facing Alabama
“Isaiah has been a key guy for us. Look, part of our team — there’s going to be ebbs and flows in terms of minutes and how that all goes. But Isaiah, I thought he had a great spirit yesterday, came in, hit a big three. That’s what he does. But he’s ready to go, and I think absolutely tomorrow he can make a big difference in what we’re doing.”
On the competitive balance in college basketball and if it’s ‘healthy’ for the SEC to potentially have three or four teams in the Final Four
“Well, my focus is on Alabama, obviously. But I think it’s a credit to what the SEC has done this year. I mean, the investment they’ve had, the teams they’ve had. You have to give them a ton of credit. Their league has been awesome this year, and whether that’s a trend moving forward or not, I think our league is doing a lot for next year moving forward.
“But at the end of the day, I think it just shows it doesn’t matter what league you’re from as long as your team is at that level. I don’t think for us it’s — we’re prepared. I could talk about some of the moments we’ve been through this season in the ACC to prepare us for this game, to prepare us to play Arizona. But give the SEC a ton of credit this year for what they’ve done and what Alabama has done. For me, I don’t think it’s like you can’t beat somebody or that entitles you to anything. But they’ve had a great year.”
Quotes courtesy of ASAP Sports. To read the full question-and-answer session with Scheyer, click here.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.