🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT: Duke Focused on Taking the Next Step From Deep to Dominant…Read More….

🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT: Duke Focused on Taking the Next Step From Deep to Dominant…Read More….

DURHAM, N.C. — The message coming out of Durham this week is clear, direct, and unmistakably ambitious: Duke basketball is locked in on taking the next step, evolving from a talented perimeter-shooting team into a fully polished, all-around dominant force. With early-season flashes showing the Blue Devils’ potential from beyond the arc, the emphasis has now shifted to transforming that strength into a more complete offensive identity—one that can withstand March pressure, physical defenses, and championship expectations.

Head coach Jon Scheyer addressed the media following a spirited practice session at Cameron Indoor Stadium, outlining the program’s renewed focus on expanding its offensive versatility. While Duke has showcased improved spacing, confident shooting, and an uptick in efficiency from deep, Scheyer made it clear that simply living by the three is not the long-term plan.

“We’re proud of the progress from the perimeter,” Scheyer said. “But being great from deep is just one layer of who we want to be. The next step is balance—finishing at the rim, creating second-chance opportunities, and making sure we’re not one-dimensional. That’s where championships are won.”

Duke enters the heart of its non-conference schedule with one of the nation’s most dynamic young rosters, headlined by versatile wings, improving bigs, and guards capable of stretching defenses from well beyond the arc. Early games have shown that this team can score in bunches, but Scheyer and his staff want to ensure the Blue Devils develop the tools to win grind-it-out battles as well.

One major component of the transformation is the emphasis on rim pressure. Duke has spent the past several practices drilling downhill drives, post seals, and off-ball cutting—areas that showed inconsistency during stretches of last season. Assistant coaches have focused on finishing through contact, reading defensive rotations, and attacking gaps created by Duke’s improved spacing.

“Teams know we can shoot it,” sophomore guard Caleb Foster noted. “But if we can be just as dangerous inside, it changes everything. It forces defenses to pick their poison.”

Another point of focus? Offensive rebounding. With the Blue Devils adding size and physicality in the frontcourt, Scheyer believes they have the personnel to extend possessions and wear down opponents. Duke’s staff has stressed the value of turning three-point attempts into either made shots or second-chance opportunities—both of which can deflate opposing defenses.

Defensively, the shift toward a more balanced offense also has ripple effects. Better inside scoring leads to more controlled transition defense. More rebounds equal fewer fast-break points allowed. And deeper, smarter rotations give Duke more ways to close out games late.

“We want to be a team that can win in multiple ways,” Scheyer said. “If the threes fall, great. If not, we still need to be able to impose our will.”

As Duke continues its march through the early season, the message reverberates: the goal isn’t just to be dangerous from deep—it’s to be complete. It’s to take the next step from a team with clear strengths to one with no weaknesses.

And if the Blue Devils succeed in taking that step, the ceiling rises—from contender… to unstoppable.