Few college basketball coaches will have a harder job managing their roster in 2024-25 than Duke’s Jon Scheyer.
The Blue Devils return two starting guards from the 2023-24 squad that reached the Elite Eight. They also bring in a star-studded freshman class with four five-star prospects and two other top-40 players in the country. If that wasn’t enough, Scheyer also landed four transfers, including three of the biggest names on the market.
So how does a coach with more than 10 possible starters decide who gets to start and end games on the court? During a Monday episode of The Devil’s Den podcast, Scheyer expanded upon his process this offseason.
“I think the only way to attack it is brutal honesty,” Scheyer said. “Just to be completely transparent…I’ve done things a little bit different this year. I’ve wanted to give these guys an opportunity to show even earlier, if you want something, earn it now.”
“We’ve done more as a team and less individual (work), I’ve felt it was important to get time this summer to not just get to know one another but also to carve out whatever you want…instead of me saying you should play a certain way.”
Scheyer said he and the coaching staff will provide feedback for the players (“If you’re not being successful at it, I’ll tell you”), but he ultimately wants every member of the rotation to earn a spot in the lineup.
The third-year coach started the offseason with similar sentiments early on in the summer, saying that no player on the team entered the season with guaranteed minutes and praising how competitive his newest locker room is.