Honestly, staying up until 1:00 AM on a Wednesday night to watch college basketball feels like a fever dream. If you were one of the Duke fans nursing a third cup of coffee today after watching the Blue Devils grind out a 71-56 win over Cal, you aren't alone. Even Jon Scheyer noticed. In his postgame press conference at Haas Pavilion, Scheyer took a second to actually thank the East Coast crowd for staying awake. It was a human moment in a business that usually feels like it's all about the box score.
But if you just look at the final score, you’re missing the point of what went down in Berkeley.
This wasn't just another road win. It was a weird, late-night experiment in identity. Duke is currently sitting at 16-1 and 5-0 in the ACC, but the "how" matters more than the "how many" right now. During the Jon Scheyer press conference, the coach didn't just talk about the win; he basically laid out the blueprint for why this specific team might actually be better than last year’s squad, even if they don't always look as "pretty" on the offensive end.
The Defensive "Quiet Part" Out Loud
A few days ago, after a shaky win over SMU, Scheyer was blunt. He said it was "hard to feel very good" when teams are shooting over 50% against them. That’s the high standard he's setting. So, when he sat down after the Cal game, the vibe was different. He was actually smiling—sorta.
Duke held Cal to 56 points. That’s 23 points below their average.
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"We've been emphasizing how to sustain defensive intensity," Scheyer noted. He’s right to be obsessed with it. For a stretch in the second half, Duke didn't allow a single field goal for over five minutes. That’s how they turned a tight 48-45 game into a 14-point cushion. It wasn't through flashy dunks—though Cameron Boozer had his fair share—it was through a suffocating, "in-your-shirt" defense that forced 11 turnovers.
Why the "Inside-Out" Talk Actually Matters
People keep waiting for Duke to become this lights-out three-point shooting team. They want the 2015 vibe. But Scheyer is basically telling everyone to stop waiting for that. In his recent media availabilities, he’s been hammering the "inside-out" identity.
- Paint Dominance: Duke had 42 points in the paint against Cal. That matches their season high against Power 4 teams.
- The Boozer Factor: Cameron Boozer is a walking double-double (21 points, 13 boards last night). He’s the hub.
- The Shooting Struggle: Duke shot poorly from deep and from the free-throw line. Again.
If they can win by 15 on the road while shooting like that? That’s actually a scary thought for the rest of the ACC. It means their floor is higher than most teams' ceilings.
The Seth and Steph Cameo
It wouldn't be a Duke game in the Bay Area without some royalty. Seeing Steph Curry and Seth Curry chatting with Scheyer after the game was a reminder of the "Brotherhood" marketing that Duke leans into so heavily. But Scheyer pointed out something interesting: it was a "great thing for our program" to see the environment in Haas Pavilion. It was the first sellout there in years.
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Duke gets everyone's best shot. We know this. But Scheyer seems to be teaching this young group—led by the Boozer twins and Isaiah Evans—how to actually enjoy being the villain. Evans, in particular, was a spark. When he makes three or more triples, Duke is 10-0 this year. He finished with 17 points and a +26 rating. Scheyer's face lights up a bit more when he talks about "Slim" (Evans' nickname) because that kid brings an edge that this team sometimes lacks.
Addressing the Point Guard "Problem"
There was a moment late in the first half that had fans scratching their heads. Scheyer decided to use "fouls to give" to burn clock. It’s a smart tactical move, but it backfired when Cayden Boozer picked up a second foul in the process. He ended up sitting for a huge chunk of the second half.
Scheyer was asked about the rotations, and he didn't dodge it. He credited Caleb Foster for being the stabilizing force. There is a very real argument to be made—and the analytics back it up—that Duke is simply a more cohesive unit when Foster is on the floor. He doesn't need to score 20. He just needs to handle the pressure, which he did beautifully in Berkeley.
What's Next on the Schedule?
The West Coast swing isn't over. Duke has a quick turnaround to face Stanford on Saturday.
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- The Good News: It’s at 6:00 PM ET. No 1:00 AM finishes.
- The Challenge: Stanford just knocked off North Carolina. They’re feeling themselves.
- The Strategy: Scheyer mentioned that they want to be the first ACC team to sweep this specific California road trip.
Actionable Insights for the "Blue Devil Faithful"
If you're following this team, don't get hung up on the 35% three-point shooting. That's not who they are this year. During the Jon Scheyer press conference, it became clear that the staff is leaning into "bully ball." They want to rebound 40% of their misses and live at the rim.
To keep up with the team’s progress, watch the defensive field goal percentage in the first ten minutes of the second half. That is where Scheyer is winning games. He’s making halftime adjustments that are statistically elite—limiting teams like Louisville and Cal to season-low outputs in the final 20 minutes.
Keep an eye on the health of the frontcourt, too. Maliq Brown is the "defensive menace" Scheyer relies on to switch one through five. As long as he and Patrick Ngongba II stay healthy, Duke’s interior defense is going to be a nightmare for the rest of the conference.
The road to the Final Four usually goes through a few ugly wins in January. Last night was one of them. Scheyer knows it, the players know it, and now, the fans who stayed up late know it too.
Next Steps for Duke Fans:
Check the injury report for any lingering issues before the Stanford tip-off, and watch the early rotations to see if Scheyer sticks with the "fouls to give" strategy or plays it safer with Cayden Boozer’s minutes.