Scheyer Still Scarred From Last Year's NCAA Loss

By Chip Alexander, Raleigh News & Observer (From AP Wire)

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - It took seven stitches to close the ugly gash under his left eye. A year later, Duke's Jon Scheyer says the scar still hasn't fully healed.

The mental scar, that is.

Scheyer says every time he sees the thin line of scar tissue, he thinks of how painfully last season ended. The sophomore guard said he thinks of Duke's 79-77 upset loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, when he suffered the cut in the final minutes, the blood trickling down to his chin as he walked off the court.

"It reminds me of that all the time," he said. "We all have a few scars from last year."

But Scheyer said it also reminds him how weary he felt that day at the HSBC Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

"You could see it in my face," he said. "You could see I had been through a lot mentally."

It will be a stronger Scheyer who will take the court Thursday in the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., when the second-seeded Blue Devils (27-5) open NCAA play against Belmont (25-8) in a West Regional game. He's stronger physically, having added 10 to 15 pounds. He's stronger mentally.

At a time in the season when players fight fatigue -- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski mentioned freshman Kyle Singler as being tired in the ACC Tournament -- Scheyer looks like he could lace up the sneakers and run in the D.C. Marathon. He has a runner's build, lean and lanky, and he appears to have endless stamina.

"We were all just kind of worn out at the end of last year," Krzyzewski said. "And we've made adjustments to how we do things in conditioning and practice and whatever. But the players have made those adjustments. I think he's as fresh as can be."

And more than fresh. Scheyer has been productive. He averaged 15.5 points in Duke's two games in the ACC Tournament last week and hit 15 of 16 free throws. He's a 88.2 percent shooter at the line this season and has knocked down 28 of 29 free throws in the Devils' past five games.

"He's playing great," Krzyzewski said. "He's playing as well as anybody on our team.

"He has a certain spirit, of just getting it done. Easy guy to play with. An almost automatic free-throw shooter, so down the stretch he's a good guy to have handling the ball if you have a lead. He's had a great year."

Much has been made of Scheyer, who started as a freshman last season, becoming the Blue Devils' sixth man this season. Embracing the new role, he scored a career-high 27 points at Miami and had a career-best 12 rebounds against Pittsburgh.

"But I don't know that I have a specific role," Scheyer said. "I come off the bench and try to provide a spark.

"It doesn't have to be scoring. Whether it's rebounding or defense, and sometimes it is scoring, I try to provide a spark. I can provide experience and poise."

At 6 feet 5 and 180 pounds, Scheyer hardly fits the "body-builder types" that Krzyzewski said other teams have. But he is thicker in the arms and shoulders this season and is wiry tough, able to drive the lane, draw contact and still get up his shot, even if he does crash-land to the floor.

Scheyer, averaging 11.5 points, is a 40 percent shooter from 3-point range. Though Krzyzewski superstitiously tapped the podium a few times talking about Scheyer being automatic at the line, he's pretty close to it, hitting 105 of 119 free throws. Scheyer also averages 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Scheyer not only has worked on a quicker release on his perimeter jumper but also knows how to take advantage of defenders who come flying out at him.

In the ACC Tournament against Clemson, he had the ball on the left wing and pump-faked Tigers guard Terrence Oglesby, who sailed past him. Scheyer then went up to shoot, only to zip a pass to center Brian Zoubek under the basket for an open layup.

Twice voted Illinois player of the year while at Glenbrook North High in Northbrook, Ill., Scheyer appears to be a calming presence for the Blue Devils when things get a bit hectic. It's as if he can get his hands on the ball, calmly set things up and slow down the heart-rate of his team.

"Jon has a lot of experience from last year," junior point guard Greg Paulus said. "He had a great freshman year, (and) he's gotten even better for us this year.

"He plays a lot of minutes for us. He can shoot the ball. He knows how to play the game. He sticks his nose in there for a lot of rebounds and makes a lot of plays defensively."

Scheyer has the scars to prove it.