Durham is buzzing again. The echoes of last season’s unforgettable Final Four run still ring through Cameron Indoor Stadium, but now, the Duke Blue Devils are already sharpening their swords for another war. On Wednesday, Jon Scheyer’s squad took the floor for their first official practice of the 2025-26 season — and the message was loud, clear, and powerful: Keep the fire, keep the backbone, keep the intensity.
For the fourth-year head coach, this season represents not just another campaign, but a defining chapter in his leadership era. He has guided Duke to the mountaintop of college basketball’s biggest stage, but the climb must continue. And the key question hovers above practice like a storm cloud: Can Duke carry over the grit, the defense, and the relentless hunger that fueled their Final Four run?
The Legacy Of Last Season’s Fire
Last year was no ordinary season in Durham. Duke didn’t just win games — they won respect. Jon Scheyer, once viewed as the young successor to a legend, proved that he could carve out his own coaching identity. His squad became known for defensive tenacity, resilience, and an intensity that reminded fans of old-school Duke grit.
They reached the Final Four, a milestone that sent Cameron Indoor into a frenzy and put Scheyer’s name firmly on the national stage. That run wasn’t just about talent. It was about toughness. It was about a backbone forged through sweat, blood, and unshakable belief. And now, as the 2025-26 season begins, the challenge is to keep that very essence alive.
A New Cast, A Familiar Blueprint
Like so many Duke teams of the past, the narrative this year will once again be shaped by a group of heralded freshmen. The recruiting class is loaded, talented, and hungry to etch their names alongside the greats who came before them. But talent alone doesn’t win championships at Duke — buy-in does.
Jon Scheyer knows it. His assistants know it. The veterans know it. And that’s why the first practice wasn’t just about plays, drills, or conditioning. It was about a statement. A commitment to bring the same backbone, the same intensity, and the same fire that defined last season.
Scheyer’s Powerful Message
In his press conference after practice, Scheyer emphasized the importance of continuity — not just in strategy, but in mentality. He asked his players the hard question: Are you willing to fight like the 2024-25 squad fought? Are you ready to defend like they defended? Are you prepared to bleed for Duke the same way?
The answer from his players, through sweat and hustle, appeared to be a resounding yes.
Scheyer spoke about defense as the heartbeat of the Blue Devils. Last season, Duke didn’t just score points — they suffocated opponents. That defensive prowess carried them through brutal matchups and ultimately into the Final Four. Scheyer’s challenge this year is simple but profound: replicate that energy with a new team, a new mix of personalities, and the same unrelenting hunger.
Veterans Leading The Way
Every great Duke season has its veterans — the players who bridge the gap between youthful talent and winning culture. This year will be no different. While freshmen will grab headlines, the returning players are the ones setting the tone in practice.
They’ve been there. They’ve survived the grind of an ACC season. They’ve felt the adrenaline of March. And they know what it takes to win when the lights are the brightest. Those veterans will be Scheyer’s lieutenants, echoing his message every single day: keep the fire alive.
Freshmen With Sky-High Expectations
Duke’s 2025 recruiting class is, as usual, among the nation’s most highly regarded. The hype is real, and the expectations are massive. These players didn’t come to Durham just to play basketball — they came to make history.
But here’s the truth: Duke doesn’t need them to just be stars. Duke needs them to buy into a system of defense, intensity, and sacrifice. Every freshman who walks into Cameron Indoor dreams of hitting game-winning shots, but Scheyer is making sure they understand something deeper: your defense, your hustle, and your toughness are what will keep this program on the path to championships.
Cameron Indoor Is Ready
If there’s one place on Earth that understands fire and intensity, it’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Crazies are already planning their chants. The students are already circling game days on their calendars. The Duke faithful tasted the Final Four under Jon Scheyer, and now they want more.
There’s a magic to opening practice in Durham. It’s not just drills and whistles — it’s the birth of a season. It’s the start of a journey that could lead back to March glory. And this year, the energy feels even bigger, even louder, even hungrier.
The ONE Explosive Goal
When you strip away all the details, the story of this Duke team comes down to a single, explosive goal: keep the fire that took them to the Final Four.
Not just winning. Not just surviving. Not just showcasing NBA-level talent. The true mission is to hold on to the backbone, the defense, and the relentless energy that defined them a year ago. If they succeed, Duke won’t just be good. They’ll be feared. They’ll be a nightmare matchup for anyone in college basketball.
And maybe — just maybe — they’ll be cutting down nets again when the season reaches its climax.
Why This Season Feels Different
Every new season brings excitement in Durham, but this one carries a different edge. Last year, Duke proved that Jon Scheyer wasn’t just a replacement for Coach K — he was a coach who could lead Duke to the game’s biggest stage. Now, the Blue Devils are chasing something more: sustainability, dominance, and legacy.
Scheyer’s vision is becoming clearer by the day. This isn’t just about developing NBA prospects. This is about building a program that keeps Duke at the pinnacle of college basketball. And with the energy seen in the very first practice, the players are buying in completely.
The Road Ahead
The ACC will be brutal. The non-conference schedule will test Duke early. Every opponent will circle the Blue Devils on their calendar. That’s life at Duke — everyone wants a piece of you. But that’s also what fuels the fire.
For Scheyer and his squad, the path is daunting, but the belief is real. The Final Four run wasn’t the peak. It was the beginning. And now, the 2025-26 season is their chance to prove that Duke Basketball is here to dominate, year after year.
Final Word: The Fire Burns On
The season is young. The practices are just beginning. But the vibe in Durham is unmistakable. This Duke team isn’t satisfied with last year’s Final Four. They aren’t content with praise or preseason hype. They want more. They want everything.
With Jon Scheyer leading, with veterans guiding, with freshmen buying in, and with Cameron Indoor rocking, the message is clear: the fire that took Duke to the Final Four last season isn’t just alive — it’s burning hotter than ever.
Durham is ready. College basketball is on notice. And the Blue Devils have only one goal: to keep the fire alive and take it all the way.
