NCAAB News: Blue Devils HC Jon Scheyer makes major admission after victory vs Alabama

The Duke Blue Devils took another step toward their goal of claiming the NCAA National Championship, punching their ticket to the Final Four. Led once again by the extraordinary talent of Cooper Flagg, Jon Scheyer‘s squad dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide, securing their spot as one of the final four teams in this year’s March Madness.

Heading into the game, defeating Alabama didn’t seem like an easy task—especially after their standout performance in the Sweet 16, where they set a historic mark by hitting 25 three-pointers in their victory over BYU.

After Duke’s commanding 85-65 victory over their rivals, Scheyer spoke with the press and revealed the key factors that helped his team overcome a tough challenge at this stage of the tournament.

“For us, we’re at our best at protecting our paint and making a lot of our threes from spray outs. I thought we did a great job with controlling the ball, keeping them out of the paint as much as you can, and our guys were disciplined the whole way,” Scheyer said to Andy Katz of TBS Sports.

Head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils hugs Cooper Flagg #2 against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the East Regional Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Prudential Center on March 29, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

Defending Alabama’s onslaught

At this stage of the competition, Alabama undoubtedly stood as one of the top contenders for the title, especially after their remarkable performance against BYU. That night, a barrage of three-pointers set a historic milestone in College Basketball, meaning the Blue Devils had to be extra vigilant against it.

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The HC’s strategy worked to perfection, limiting his opponent to just 8 of 32 attempts from beyond the arc. Grant Nelson was held to just 10 points, and perhaps just as importantly, Duke managed to keep their opponent to the lowest point total of the entire season.

Jon Scheyer crafted a game plan that worked to perfection, relying on his team’s solid defensive effort. From here on out, it remains to be seen what lies ahead as they aim for a spot in the March Madness championship game.

What’s next for the Blue Devils?

With their spot in the Final Four secured, the Blue Devils await their opponent between the Houston Cougars and the Tennessee Volunteers. The game will take place in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, April 5th.