How Duke basketball’s preseason practices, two traits helped Blue Devils knock off Auburn

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DURHAM — In the first few weeks after officially becoming Mike Krzyzewski’s successor in 2022, Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer had a chat with former Blue Devil standout Shane Battier.

“When you think about Duke basketball, what do you think about?” Scheyer asked Battier, who helped Duke win the 2001 national championship.

“(Battier) said, ‘It’s one word, it’s competition.’ ”

Following No. 9 Duke’s 84-78 win against No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Scheyer doubled down on that message as it relates to the current Blue Devils (6-2).

How Duke took down Auburn

“To me, it’s what defines Duke basketball. I think, sometimes on the outside, people have a misconception of what Duke basketball is all about,” Schyer said after Duke took down the previously-unbeaten Tigers (7-1).

“It’s built on toughness and competitiveness. Even after the losses (to Kentucky and Kansas) … I’ve known we have something with this group.”

Duke basketball’s preseason practices paved way to big-time win vs Auburn

After adding 10 newcomers to its roster ahead of the 2024-25 season, Duke began cultivating its culture of toughness and competitiveness with grueling summer workouts.

Associate head coach Chris Carrawell saw an enhanced edge in how the Blue Devils attacked those sessions.

“The intensity of a practice this year has been different,” Carrawell said in the preseason. “. … It’s a different energy in the gym.”

Isaiah Evans’ hot shooting start

Assistant coach Emanuel Dildy said Scheyer incorporated “the finisher” at the end of practices to spark that competitive spirit. Dildy described it as a “boot camp” segment that required the team to experience “shared tough times” in preparation for the season.

“We tried to put them in a lot of adversity this summer in terms of practices,” Dildy said, “maybe giving them some unrealistic goals that they have to get to together.”

It’s a lesson that came in handy when Duke faced…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/duke-basketballs-preseason-practices-two-135637049.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2024-12-05 13:56:00

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