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Men's Basketball Meets Media Ahead of ACC Opener
12/2/2022 2:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM - Duke men's basketball head coach Jon Scheyer, along with Ryan Young and Jeremy Roach, met with media members ahead of Duke's ACC-opener against Boston College on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils and Eagles tip-off at 4 p.m. inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, with the game set to be broadcast on ACC Network. The Blue Devils are 51-18 (.739) all-time in ACC openers and Saturday's game marks just the third time in the past eight seasons that Duke has opened its ACC schedule at home.
HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER
On what changes conference play brings to the season:
"It's a level of play. It goes up and we all know each other very well. Even though we have a new team and Boston College, they have a new team as well. But they have a bunch of returning players. There's history there. And you know, you're 0-0. There's nobody that has a loss, there's nobody that has a win. So, every game is important. And this league is a great tradition and a great history of big-time games. So for our guys, we're excited about the opportunity … it's the second-earliest game we've ever had for a conference game so that's interesting and an adjustment. But we're ready and anxious to get started with ACC play."
On his assessment of Ryan Young:
"He's been terrific. He's been great. He's all about winning. Could not care less about scoring, statistics, anything other than what the team needs. And that includes starting, coming off the bench, minutes. And when he's in the game, he's a big-time competitor. I mean, he goes out after every rebound, every coverage, all the subtleties of the game he takes to heart. Scouting reports, he's the one in the locker room that's always reminding our guys 'alright, remember when we guard this action, here's how we're defending it'. And his maturity, he's been absolutely incredible for us, and we need him to continue to build. I think the biggest thing with him is he can be too unselfish, and he can really score down there. So when he gets the ball, we want him to go to work and attack the rim."
On how patient Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively II have had to be returning from injury:
"Yeah, I don't think they're very patient. Which is what makes them really good. I don't want them to be patient, and by the way, I'm not patient either. I have to remind myself to do that. And, you know, they're in here earlier this morning working. They've been, especially as of late, because as you're coming back from injury, we've had to hold them back with what they can do. You're trying to get fully healthy and all that. So, they've been on a mission, they're in here every day getting extra work in and I think it's only a matter of time, as long as we have the approach where we're just working and going after it, which these two guys have. So, I don't think any of us are patient, but we also understand this is a long season and we've got a long way to go still."
On how Kyle Filipowski has handled being the leading scorer and rebounder:
"He's handled it well. I mean, he's done a good job. The thing with Kyle is that he can hurt you a lot of different ways, inside and out, and it's going to continue to get hard for him because defenses will do different things, we'll continue to see different matchups or different coverages. Do they double, do they not? But really, even though he's been our leading scorer, he's not caught up in just the numbers or doing that. He's just trying to win. I think the thing I love the most is how he's rebounded. He attacks the offensive glass. He's been defensive rebounding and he's been defending. He's got to to continue to do those things."
On Tyrese Proctor's development throughout the early season:
"Sometimes guys miss, and they're all over the place. I mean, almost every one of his misses have been back rim or in-and-out and so for him to see one go down the other night I think was important. And, you know, for him, he's way more than just a scorer shooter. He can really pass, and we need him to play-make for us. And not to judge yourself based off of shooting. I think as a young player, you get caught up in doing that. 'If my shots not falling, am I playing well?'. And I thought he broke through with that in the Purdue game."
On his thoughts of Coach Elko being named ACC Football Coach of the Year:
"Yeah, Coach Elko has done a great job. I mean, me and him started off at the same time, we developed a really good bond and I have a lot of respect for what he's done as an assistant coach leading up to taking over for our program here at Duke. Just so proud
of what the football team has done and what they stand for. I think I still need to steal maybe a couple of his players; he's got some guys that can play now. But we really support each other and there's no question in my mind he deserved it. Our program is, it's still only going to get better from here with his leadership, so really happy for him. I did text him; I haven't heard back yet so I don't know if he's gone big time on me or anything, but that's my guy right there. I'm happy for him and proud of the football team."
JUNIOR GUARD JEREMY ROACH
On how useful the defense has been in improving the offense:
"I mean, definitely useful. Getting our offense going is a big thing. But I mean, we try to really locking in on the defensive end, that can never fall off. We know our offense will come as the season goes along, as the young guys keep learning. We keep learning about our team. But defense has to be stable because it always leads to offense. Like I said, offense is going to come, we have enough scoring and we're versatile enough. Just got to keep transforming like Coach Scheyer says, and as the season goes along, our offense will come.
On getting comfortable with Dereck Lively II in pick-and-roll situations:
"Definitely made a lot of progress. Dereck, he's such a freak of nature. To be seven foot, can jump out the gym, can run the floor, can stretch the floor. I mean, with him just not having as much practice time, it definitely needs some time just to get our rhythm, but I feel just keeping his confidence up and just knowing that someone's going to be out there looking for him for sure, because I mean, I want him to grow, and I want him to get better. So just looking for him any opportunity that I can is going to help his confidence and is going to help us throughout the season."
GRADUATE CENTER RYAN YOUNG
On playing power conference teams lately and how it has prepared him for ACC play:
"Obviously, this will be my first ACC game coming up here, but I've had my fair share of conference games in the Big 10 and power-five games overall. I think it's been great for us to get a different look, all the power-five teams we've played up to date, and the smaller non-conference schools, have been different. Obviously, playing Purdue and Zach Edey, that gives you a very different unique look and we had to craft a different style of defense than we're used to. And Ohio State was a much different team and then Kansas a much different team than them. So, for me specifically, for sure. And then a lot, for our young guys, to be able to get that kind of experience and see those different types of offenses and teams overall I think is really important. One of the things that, you know, I talked with Coach Scheyer when I was first thinking about coming here was 'how does the ACC differ from the Big 10?' and one of the things he mentioned is just that you see a lot of different things in the ACC versus the Big 10 in terms of the way teams play and the way teams are built. So, I think for myself, and for all of us, just getting a different look at different types of teams and teaching our young guys how to prep for different offenses, different defenses and seeing different styles of teams and different personnel's has been awesome. It's more experience under the belt for us."
On how guarding against different styles has helped him improve individually:
"Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Zach Edey was a bit of an anomaly, but I've played against both those guys for a few years now. It's good just with overall toughness. Personally, I think one of the things that I add value with and bring to the game is just making those gritty plays, being a quote-unquote dirty work player. That's something that I need to take a lot of pride in, you know, with some of the things that I lack athletically and being able to make plays above the rim, I need to be make up for with toughness plays and being able to compete with big guys in the post. So again, it's just great experience. Like I mentioned, I've played against those guys for a few years now but just more and more experience. Learning from every game, you watch film, and you get better from just more and more experience against different and bigger players."
HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER
On what changes conference play brings to the season:
"It's a level of play. It goes up and we all know each other very well. Even though we have a new team and Boston College, they have a new team as well. But they have a bunch of returning players. There's history there. And you know, you're 0-0. There's nobody that has a loss, there's nobody that has a win. So, every game is important. And this league is a great tradition and a great history of big-time games. So for our guys, we're excited about the opportunity … it's the second-earliest game we've ever had for a conference game so that's interesting and an adjustment. But we're ready and anxious to get started with ACC play."
On his assessment of Ryan Young:
"He's been terrific. He's been great. He's all about winning. Could not care less about scoring, statistics, anything other than what the team needs. And that includes starting, coming off the bench, minutes. And when he's in the game, he's a big-time competitor. I mean, he goes out after every rebound, every coverage, all the subtleties of the game he takes to heart. Scouting reports, he's the one in the locker room that's always reminding our guys 'alright, remember when we guard this action, here's how we're defending it'. And his maturity, he's been absolutely incredible for us, and we need him to continue to build. I think the biggest thing with him is he can be too unselfish, and he can really score down there. So when he gets the ball, we want him to go to work and attack the rim."
On how patient Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively II have had to be returning from injury:
"Yeah, I don't think they're very patient. Which is what makes them really good. I don't want them to be patient, and by the way, I'm not patient either. I have to remind myself to do that. And, you know, they're in here earlier this morning working. They've been, especially as of late, because as you're coming back from injury, we've had to hold them back with what they can do. You're trying to get fully healthy and all that. So, they've been on a mission, they're in here every day getting extra work in and I think it's only a matter of time, as long as we have the approach where we're just working and going after it, which these two guys have. So, I don't think any of us are patient, but we also understand this is a long season and we've got a long way to go still."
On how Kyle Filipowski has handled being the leading scorer and rebounder:
"He's handled it well. I mean, he's done a good job. The thing with Kyle is that he can hurt you a lot of different ways, inside and out, and it's going to continue to get hard for him because defenses will do different things, we'll continue to see different matchups or different coverages. Do they double, do they not? But really, even though he's been our leading scorer, he's not caught up in just the numbers or doing that. He's just trying to win. I think the thing I love the most is how he's rebounded. He attacks the offensive glass. He's been defensive rebounding and he's been defending. He's got to to continue to do those things."
On Tyrese Proctor's development throughout the early season:
"Sometimes guys miss, and they're all over the place. I mean, almost every one of his misses have been back rim or in-and-out and so for him to see one go down the other night I think was important. And, you know, for him, he's way more than just a scorer shooter. He can really pass, and we need him to play-make for us. And not to judge yourself based off of shooting. I think as a young player, you get caught up in doing that. 'If my shots not falling, am I playing well?'. And I thought he broke through with that in the Purdue game."
On his thoughts of Coach Elko being named ACC Football Coach of the Year:
"Yeah, Coach Elko has done a great job. I mean, me and him started off at the same time, we developed a really good bond and I have a lot of respect for what he's done as an assistant coach leading up to taking over for our program here at Duke. Just so proud
of what the football team has done and what they stand for. I think I still need to steal maybe a couple of his players; he's got some guys that can play now. But we really support each other and there's no question in my mind he deserved it. Our program is, it's still only going to get better from here with his leadership, so really happy for him. I did text him; I haven't heard back yet so I don't know if he's gone big time on me or anything, but that's my guy right there. I'm happy for him and proud of the football team."
JUNIOR GUARD JEREMY ROACH
On how useful the defense has been in improving the offense:
"I mean, definitely useful. Getting our offense going is a big thing. But I mean, we try to really locking in on the defensive end, that can never fall off. We know our offense will come as the season goes along, as the young guys keep learning. We keep learning about our team. But defense has to be stable because it always leads to offense. Like I said, offense is going to come, we have enough scoring and we're versatile enough. Just got to keep transforming like Coach Scheyer says, and as the season goes along, our offense will come.
On getting comfortable with Dereck Lively II in pick-and-roll situations:
"Definitely made a lot of progress. Dereck, he's such a freak of nature. To be seven foot, can jump out the gym, can run the floor, can stretch the floor. I mean, with him just not having as much practice time, it definitely needs some time just to get our rhythm, but I feel just keeping his confidence up and just knowing that someone's going to be out there looking for him for sure, because I mean, I want him to grow, and I want him to get better. So just looking for him any opportunity that I can is going to help his confidence and is going to help us throughout the season."
GRADUATE CENTER RYAN YOUNG
On playing power conference teams lately and how it has prepared him for ACC play:
"Obviously, this will be my first ACC game coming up here, but I've had my fair share of conference games in the Big 10 and power-five games overall. I think it's been great for us to get a different look, all the power-five teams we've played up to date, and the smaller non-conference schools, have been different. Obviously, playing Purdue and Zach Edey, that gives you a very different unique look and we had to craft a different style of defense than we're used to. And Ohio State was a much different team and then Kansas a much different team than them. So, for me specifically, for sure. And then a lot, for our young guys, to be able to get that kind of experience and see those different types of offenses and teams overall I think is really important. One of the things that, you know, I talked with Coach Scheyer when I was first thinking about coming here was 'how does the ACC differ from the Big 10?' and one of the things he mentioned is just that you see a lot of different things in the ACC versus the Big 10 in terms of the way teams play and the way teams are built. So, I think for myself, and for all of us, just getting a different look at different types of teams and teaching our young guys how to prep for different offenses, different defenses and seeing different styles of teams and different personnel's has been awesome. It's more experience under the belt for us."
On how guarding against different styles has helped him improve individually:
"Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Zach Edey was a bit of an anomaly, but I've played against both those guys for a few years now. It's good just with overall toughness. Personally, I think one of the things that I add value with and bring to the game is just making those gritty plays, being a quote-unquote dirty work player. That's something that I need to take a lot of pride in, you know, with some of the things that I lack athletically and being able to make plays above the rim, I need to be make up for with toughness plays and being able to compete with big guys in the post. So again, it's just great experience. Like I mentioned, I've played against those guys for a few years now but just more and more experience. Learning from every game, you watch film, and you get better from just more and more experience against different and bigger players."
Players Mentioned
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