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Coach Scheyer, Players Meet With Media Thursday
1/26/2023 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM - Duke men's basketball head coach Jon Scheyer along with graduate Ryan Young and junior Jeremy Roach met with media Thursday ahead of Duke's ACC road tilt at Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon.
HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER
On Dariq Whitehead's injury status:
"Dariq [Whitehead's] not going to play Saturday. He's just not ready to go and need to get him fully healthy and we'll take it from there. We've gotten positive news but just he's not ready for Saturday. … He's progressing. Even the few days that he's been out, hasn't been able to practice yet but we want to take it slow. Be cautious and then again, whenever that time is, I don't want to speculate on time because we don't know. But it's not going to be for Saturday."
On how Whitehead is handling a second injury in one season:
"I mean, he's bummed no question. He wants to be out there playing. And in that game against Virginia Tech, I thought he showed some big-time flashes. He really, offensively, carried us early. I thought he had a great swagger about him and not only had some baskets, but his feel for the game, his passing, I thought he was showing a lot that game. And just how it goes. You have to bounce right back and handle some of these challenges. And that's what I've told him. That's what we've talked about. And that's going to be our approach."
On what he likes about what he's been getting out of Dereck Lively II lately:
"Well, Dereck [Lively's] activity has been incredible. Two games ago against Miami, just the way he protected the rim, where he was blocking shots, running the floor, rebounding. If he does that, in addition to other things he's capable of doing, his scoring can be an added addition for us. His passing, he made a really nice pass to [Kyle Filipowski], didn't go down as an assist because he didn't convert but he can do all those things. The activity level and the confidence is what I love to see. I think he's on an upward trajectory right now and he's in a great spot. He just needs to continue to do it in games, but really proud of his work ethic and what he's done."
On if his approach changes with a long break after a loss:
"I try not to be a bad guy to be around. I think it's important for us, I mean, we've had some really tough losses. We've had some, clearly the lineups and injuries we've had to continue to adjust the whole year, but stay upbeat about this. I mean, it's January still. And so, really the approach of getting the next game, that's been my mindset. … What do we need to do to beat Georgia Tech and prepare and have our mindsets ready? I still want us to be at our best, and we have a lot that we need to accomplish, and not skipping steps but when the time where our best is required, and there's still time for that. So, I want us to feel positive. Not happy with where we are by any means. There's still a lot more I think we can do, and should be doing, but that's been my approach. The time off just really gives you time to have perspective and prepare your best to go get the next one."
On if having to shuffle lineups and rotations reminds him of any teams he's seen since being back on staff:
"We had a different kind of team obviously, but the one year, Jayson Tatum's year, we had a lot of injuries that year and really throughout the whole course of the season we were dealing with some stuff. And by the final two or three weeks of the season, I want to say, we got healthy, and we made a run at that thing. I mean we won the ACC Tournament. But that's definitely a year it reminds me of from that aspect. Different kind of team. And I think for us, look, other teams are dealing with injuries too. We're not the only ones. And there's ups and downs you can go through with it. But I think the biggest thing for us is having dependability, and consistency, from each one of our guys. And we've asked them to do different things, depending on who's in the game. And so that's something we're sorting through together. We're working through. I think it's also allowed guys to step up, maybe in some ways they wouldn't have, and it's also created where I think Derek [Lively II] is now who he would have been maybe a month prior if he had the preseason. So he's really finding out how to be successful and what to do now. So as long as we get there, and at some point here soon, that's what's on my mind."
On if he's seen anything on film for Georgia Tech defensively that he wants to focus on:
"I think it starts with taking care of the ball. They're gonna switch up their defenses. They do a great job of having active hands and making you, trying to keep you guessing and keep you off guard. So as much as you can focus on being aggressive, not getting stood up by whatever defense they're playing. It's easier said than done. But that obviously is the goal for us."
GRADUATE FORWARD RYAN YOUNG
On how Dariq Whitehead has handled his latest injury:
"I'd say he has a pretty upbeat energy. I mean, I don't know anything obviously about a timetable but he did a fantastic job when he first injured his foot of still being the same steady mindset and teammate he can be off the floor, which is difficult, especially for a freshman not to get in, you know, in your own head and feel sorry for yourself. And he's continued that yesterday throughout practice. Today I'm sure he'll do the same thing of not letting, although he's not on the floor, not letting his presence drop as well. So, he's been great for that. And overall, it's just seemed like he's had an upbeat energy."
On differences in his season at Duke compared to his time at Northwestern:
"Yeah, it's a good question. I think the biggest difference overall is just the goal setting and the realization throughout the year of where we're trying to get to. At Northwestern, the goal was always to make the tournament, and that was kind of our first step and trying to get, from there, we'd build on top of that. And there's just a different type of understanding here and type of will, I guess, and emphasis on where we need to get to this early in the year here then compared to where I last was."
On what he saw on the Virginia Tech film that revealed anything else about what contributed to defensive breakdowns:
"By looking at the film, it's all very fixable. Give credit to Virginia Tech, they shot the ball very well. But going back in the film it's frustrating, they had so many open looks just by miscommunications on our end of the defense. So, it was frustrating to look back but also somewhat as positive you can get about a loss. They're very fixable. It wasn't like we were getting beaten in too many different unique actions. We were just not communicating on switches. And that led to a few wide-open looks. So that was just something that we touched upon as well looking over the film."
JUNIOR GUARD JEREMY ROACH
On how he's feeling physically after being back for about a week:
"I'm feeling good physically. I talked to the doctors, they said that my toe is doing exactly what they what they thought it would do. The healing is progressing. So just trying to get back to work now. We've had some bumps in the road but the work continues now and I'm looking forward to it."
On what if there's anything different with their preparation for another ACC road game:
"I mean, same mindset. We just gotta go out there and get a win. Go to Georgia Tech with that mindset to win. Not looking at the road and how it's been tough for us, just trying to go out there and get a win."
On if his role as captain now has changed or differs compared to the beginning of the year:
"Definitely. I mean, just for me, knowing I've been battling some injuries this time right now, just this kind of road stretch we're about to have these next five games, it's gonna be big for us to come out with some big wins. Because we've got to still have a solid record in the ACC to make the tournament or get a good seed in the tournament. So these next five games is definitely gonna be big for us and I'm looking forward to that challenge."
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMBB".
#GoDuke
HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER
On Dariq Whitehead's injury status:
"Dariq [Whitehead's] not going to play Saturday. He's just not ready to go and need to get him fully healthy and we'll take it from there. We've gotten positive news but just he's not ready for Saturday. … He's progressing. Even the few days that he's been out, hasn't been able to practice yet but we want to take it slow. Be cautious and then again, whenever that time is, I don't want to speculate on time because we don't know. But it's not going to be for Saturday."
On how Whitehead is handling a second injury in one season:
"I mean, he's bummed no question. He wants to be out there playing. And in that game against Virginia Tech, I thought he showed some big-time flashes. He really, offensively, carried us early. I thought he had a great swagger about him and not only had some baskets, but his feel for the game, his passing, I thought he was showing a lot that game. And just how it goes. You have to bounce right back and handle some of these challenges. And that's what I've told him. That's what we've talked about. And that's going to be our approach."
On what he likes about what he's been getting out of Dereck Lively II lately:
"Well, Dereck [Lively's] activity has been incredible. Two games ago against Miami, just the way he protected the rim, where he was blocking shots, running the floor, rebounding. If he does that, in addition to other things he's capable of doing, his scoring can be an added addition for us. His passing, he made a really nice pass to [Kyle Filipowski], didn't go down as an assist because he didn't convert but he can do all those things. The activity level and the confidence is what I love to see. I think he's on an upward trajectory right now and he's in a great spot. He just needs to continue to do it in games, but really proud of his work ethic and what he's done."
On if his approach changes with a long break after a loss:
"I try not to be a bad guy to be around. I think it's important for us, I mean, we've had some really tough losses. We've had some, clearly the lineups and injuries we've had to continue to adjust the whole year, but stay upbeat about this. I mean, it's January still. And so, really the approach of getting the next game, that's been my mindset. … What do we need to do to beat Georgia Tech and prepare and have our mindsets ready? I still want us to be at our best, and we have a lot that we need to accomplish, and not skipping steps but when the time where our best is required, and there's still time for that. So, I want us to feel positive. Not happy with where we are by any means. There's still a lot more I think we can do, and should be doing, but that's been my approach. The time off just really gives you time to have perspective and prepare your best to go get the next one."
On if having to shuffle lineups and rotations reminds him of any teams he's seen since being back on staff:
"We had a different kind of team obviously, but the one year, Jayson Tatum's year, we had a lot of injuries that year and really throughout the whole course of the season we were dealing with some stuff. And by the final two or three weeks of the season, I want to say, we got healthy, and we made a run at that thing. I mean we won the ACC Tournament. But that's definitely a year it reminds me of from that aspect. Different kind of team. And I think for us, look, other teams are dealing with injuries too. We're not the only ones. And there's ups and downs you can go through with it. But I think the biggest thing for us is having dependability, and consistency, from each one of our guys. And we've asked them to do different things, depending on who's in the game. And so that's something we're sorting through together. We're working through. I think it's also allowed guys to step up, maybe in some ways they wouldn't have, and it's also created where I think Derek [Lively II] is now who he would have been maybe a month prior if he had the preseason. So he's really finding out how to be successful and what to do now. So as long as we get there, and at some point here soon, that's what's on my mind."
On if he's seen anything on film for Georgia Tech defensively that he wants to focus on:
"I think it starts with taking care of the ball. They're gonna switch up their defenses. They do a great job of having active hands and making you, trying to keep you guessing and keep you off guard. So as much as you can focus on being aggressive, not getting stood up by whatever defense they're playing. It's easier said than done. But that obviously is the goal for us."
GRADUATE FORWARD RYAN YOUNG
On how Dariq Whitehead has handled his latest injury:
"I'd say he has a pretty upbeat energy. I mean, I don't know anything obviously about a timetable but he did a fantastic job when he first injured his foot of still being the same steady mindset and teammate he can be off the floor, which is difficult, especially for a freshman not to get in, you know, in your own head and feel sorry for yourself. And he's continued that yesterday throughout practice. Today I'm sure he'll do the same thing of not letting, although he's not on the floor, not letting his presence drop as well. So, he's been great for that. And overall, it's just seemed like he's had an upbeat energy."
On differences in his season at Duke compared to his time at Northwestern:
"Yeah, it's a good question. I think the biggest difference overall is just the goal setting and the realization throughout the year of where we're trying to get to. At Northwestern, the goal was always to make the tournament, and that was kind of our first step and trying to get, from there, we'd build on top of that. And there's just a different type of understanding here and type of will, I guess, and emphasis on where we need to get to this early in the year here then compared to where I last was."
On what he saw on the Virginia Tech film that revealed anything else about what contributed to defensive breakdowns:
"By looking at the film, it's all very fixable. Give credit to Virginia Tech, they shot the ball very well. But going back in the film it's frustrating, they had so many open looks just by miscommunications on our end of the defense. So, it was frustrating to look back but also somewhat as positive you can get about a loss. They're very fixable. It wasn't like we were getting beaten in too many different unique actions. We were just not communicating on switches. And that led to a few wide-open looks. So that was just something that we touched upon as well looking over the film."
JUNIOR GUARD JEREMY ROACH
On how he's feeling physically after being back for about a week:
"I'm feeling good physically. I talked to the doctors, they said that my toe is doing exactly what they what they thought it would do. The healing is progressing. So just trying to get back to work now. We've had some bumps in the road but the work continues now and I'm looking forward to it."
On what if there's anything different with their preparation for another ACC road game:
"I mean, same mindset. We just gotta go out there and get a win. Go to Georgia Tech with that mindset to win. Not looking at the road and how it's been tough for us, just trying to go out there and get a win."
On if his role as captain now has changed or differs compared to the beginning of the year:
"Definitely. I mean, just for me, knowing I've been battling some injuries this time right now, just this kind of road stretch we're about to have these next five games, it's gonna be big for us to come out with some big wins. Because we've got to still have a solid record in the ACC to make the tournament or get a good seed in the tournament. So these next five games is definitely gonna be big for us and I'm looking forward to that challenge."
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMBB".
#GoDuke
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