Jon Scheyer Opens Up on Duke’s Heartbreaking Final Four Collapse
The Duke basketball program went into the 2025 NCAA Tournament looking every bit like the team to beat. With a dominant 19-1 ACC record, both the regular-season and ACC Tournament titles, and the coveted No. 1 seed, Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils were riding a wave of momentum. They stormed through March with ruthless efficiency, winning their first four tournament games by an average of 23.5 points. A trip to the Final Four felt like destiny — and a national championship appearance seemed almost inevitable.
Then, in a stunning turn of events, that dream unraveled. After controlling much of the semifinal clash with Houston, Duke crumbled in the closing minutes, falling 70-67 in what will be remembered as one of the most painful collapses in NCAA Tournament history. For a program built on excellence and expectations, the heartbreak was felt not only by the team but by the entire Blue Devil fan base.
Scheyer on the Locker Room’s Emotions
Speaking with insider Jon Rothstein on Inside College Basketball Now, Scheyer peeled back the curtain on the emotional rollercoaster inside the locker room after the loss.
“Just that I love them,” Scheyer recalled. “I told them I was sorry. I told them I didn’t feel like I helped them enough down the stretch. But they did absolutely everything we asked of them. Their effort, their approach, the way they showed up every single day — it was special. Mistakes happen, that’s basketball. But this group was something different for me as a coach.”
His words reflected not just the disappointment of the moment but also the deep bond between coach and players. For Scheyer, this team wasn’t simply about wins and losses — it was about growth, resilience, and the brotherhood they built over the course of an unforgettable season.
One of the Most Talented Duke Teams Ever
That 2025 Duke squad will go down as one of the most gifted rosters in recent program history. Led by AP National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg, a generational freshman talent who captivated college basketball, the Blue Devils had everything: defense, scoring, chemistry, and grit. With so many weapons around Flagg, Duke looked untouchable through much of March Madness, further cementing expectations that they were the team of destiny.
Yet in the cruelest twist, the team’s magical run ended one step short of the national championship game.
Scheyer’s Growth and What’s Next
Despite the crushing defeat, Scheyer’s track record speaks volumes. In just three seasons at the helm, he has already delivered two ACC Tournament titles, plus trips to the Elite Eight and the Final Four. Few programs can boast that kind of consistent success with such a young head coach.
Now, the page turns to the 2025–26 season. The roster is almost entirely new, brimming with youth and potential. Scheyer has reloaded once again, pairing key returners with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. Expectations will once again be sky-high, as Duke chases its sixth national championship.
Duke’s loss to Houston may have left scars, but it also lit a fire. Scheyer’s words in the locker room — filled with love, accountability, and pride — might just be the fuel that pushes his next team back to the mountaintop.
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