DFZ INTERVIEWS MATT GILES: PART 3!
We have part 3 today - questions 3 & 4 are on this article!! Let's get right to it:
3. What do you think about Coach K leaving and its impact on the players and fans?
I think Coach K is going about his retirement in the best possible way, specifically with respect to ensuring a smooth transition in recruiting and whatnot. At the same time, though, because he announced it a year in advance and named Jon Scheyer as his successor, it hasn't totally sunk in yet -- at least not for me -- that the only Duke head coach I've ever known will be permanently absent from the Blue Devil bench after next season. I suspect the same on-hold emotions are present with many other fans and perhaps even the current younger players.
4. Why do you think Duke selected Jon Scheyer to be the head coach instead of any other coach?
First and foremost, Jon Scheyer has always appeared honest, trustworthy, brilliant, and uniquely charismatic. No, I don't know him personally. But watching him as a player and assistant coach, he's become one of my favorite Blue Devils of all time. As a senior in 2009-10, he had the task of being the starting point guard even though he had mostly been the starting two-guard in his previous three seasons. As you know, that season ended in Duke's fourth national title. But without Scheyer seemingly never committing a turnover as the floor general that season while still splashing 3-pointers like he always had, there's no way the Blue Devils would have cut down the nets.
Had someone told me at the time that Scheyer would replace Krzyzewski 12 years later, I absolutely would have believed it and welcomed it. Simply put, I believe in Jon Scheyer.
Those are some awesome answers. Again, I would like to thank Matt Giles so much for giving us this AWESOME content. If you have any spare time, just check out Ball Durham. It's a really awesome website.