How Duke basketball's preseason practices, two traits helped Blue ...

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Duke basketball Jon Scheyer press conference after win vs Auburn

Following Duke basketball's win vs. Auburn, head coach Jon Scheyer discussed the Blue Devils' performance in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

DURHAM — In the first few weeks after officially becoming Mike Krzyzewski's successor in 2022, Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer had a chat with former Blue Devil standout Shane Battier. 

“When you think about Duke basketball, what do you think about?” Scheyer asked Battier, who helped Duke win the 2001 national championship. 

“(Battier) said, 'It’s one word, it’s competition.' ” 

Following No. 9 Duke’s 84-78 win against No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Scheyer doubled down on that message as it relates to the current Blue Devils (6-2). 

How Duke took down Auburn

“To me, it’s what defines Duke basketball. I think, sometimes on the outside, people have a misconception of what Duke basketball is all about,” Schyer said after Duke took down the previously-unbeaten Tigers (7-1). 

“It’s built on toughness and competitiveness. Even after the losses (to Kentucky and Kansas) … I’ve known we have something with this group.” 

Duke basketball’s preseason practices paved way to big-time win vs Auburn 

After adding 10 newcomers to its roster ahead of the 2024-25 season, Duke began cultivating its culture of toughness and competitiveness with grueling summer workouts. 

Associate head coach Chris Carrawell saw an enhanced edge in how the Blue Devils attacked those sessions.

“The intensity of a practice this year has been different,” Carrawell said in the preseason. “. … It’s a different energy in the gym.” 

Isaiah Evans' hot shooting start

Assistant coach Emanuel Dildy said Scheyer incorporated “the finisher” at the end of practices to spark that competitive spirit. Dildy described it as a “boot camp” segment that required the team to experience “shared tough times” in preparation for the season.  

“We tried to put them in a lot of adversity this summer in terms of practices,” Dildy said, “maybe giving them some unrealistic goals that they have to get to together.”

It's a lesson that came in handy when Duke faced adversity from the jump against Auburn.

Cooper Flagg, Sion James, Isaiah Evans display defense, competitiveness vs Auburn

Duke's Isaiah Evans, Cooper Flagg, Sion James talk win vs Auburn

Following Duke basketball's win vs. Auburn, Isaiah Evans, Cooper Flagg and Sion James discussed the Blue Devils' performance.

During his time as leader of the Devils, Coach K would often discuss Duke’s ability to handle the adversity of being “knocked back.” That's exactly what happened on Wednesday night.

Cameron Indoor Stadium sounded like Neville Arena, Auburn’s home gym, in the opening four minutes as the Tigers jumped out to an 11-point lead with Krzyzewski watching from a seat on the baseline. 

Duke’s poor start prompted Scheyer to call a timeout and the Blue Devils answered with a 24-11 stretch to take command. They wouldn’t trail by more the one point the rest of the first half and they never trailed in the second half. 

“I really thought that our guys were as tough as could be,” Scheyer said. “I think we’ve learned from some of these other games we’ve been in.” 

Cooper Flagg, Sion James and Isaiah Evans were among the players to power the energetic effort. 

Evans did it with six 3-pointers in 10 first-half minutes, snagging a loose-ball rebound after his first trey before knocking down five more shots from long range. But his competitiveness on the defensive end is a big reason why Evans is getting more playing time.

“Everyone in the country knows I can score the ball, but a team like this, it’s about who can defend and who can rebound every single possession,” Evans said. “Once I show I can do that, sky’s the limit.” 

The hype surrounding Cooper Flagg

Evans had to learn the hard way this summer against his Duke teammates.

“It’s about competing with these guys every day. For a summer straight, these guys were just busting my (behind). I couldn’t guard anybody, couldn’t box out,” Evans said. “It was really hard, but now when I get out there, I feel like I can guard anybody, ‘cause I’m guarding the best guys in the country every day in practice.” 

In what James described as a “man’s game" due to the level of physicality, the Blue Devils were hitting Coach K Court throughout the night against the aggressive Tigers. Each time, those players got up and matched the toughness of Bruce Pearl’s squad. Even Pearl said Duke "played more physically" than his team.

“A lot of stuff that we did in the summer and leading up to this really taught us to be that gritty team, to be able to finish a game, to be able to look a challenge in the face and not even flinch,” said James, who finished with nine points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. 

Three times Auburn put pressure on Duke by making it a one-possession game late in the second half. Each time, Duke answered with a bucket. As Scheyer put it, the Devils “made the tough plays in order to win” down the stretch. 

It’s something Duke failed to do in close losses to Kentucky and Kansas, losing those games by a combined eight points.

This time, against Auburn, the Devils got it done with competitiveness and toughness.

“For us to be able to go out and compete how we did, and kind of put on the physicality and toughness that we played with,” said Flagg, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds.

“I think it was huge for us.” 

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.