It got loud. It got physical. And it might be the best thing that’s happened to Duke this summer.
Practice got intense. Really intense.
Earlier this week, during a closed-door summer workout, things nearly boiled over between two of Duke’s most competitive players: Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster. The spark? A hard foul during a fast break — followed by a stare-down, some serious jawing, and teammates rushing in before anything escalated further.
But if you think this means Duke’s chemistry is off, think again.
According to multiple sources close to the program, head coach Jon Scheyer didn’t see this as a setback. He saw it as a signal — that his team finally has the fight it’s been missing.
> “You don’t build a championship team without some fire,” one staff member said. “You want guys who hate losing — even in a summer scrimmage.”
Inside the Dust-Up
It started with Evans — the ultra-talented sophomore wing from Fayetteville — attacking the rim with his usual intensity. Foster, the veteran junior guard and returning leader, met him at the basket with a hard contest. Evans hit the floor. No whistle. No apologies.
Evans popped up. Foster stood his ground.
Words flew. Teammates — including Maliq Brown and Sean Stewart — had to physically step in. Practice halted for nearly a minute.
And then?
It resumed with twice the energy.
Why Scheyer Loved It
Rather than punishing either player, Scheyer pulled both aside — not to scold, but to remind them why this matters.
> “That’s accountability,” he reportedly told them. “That’s how you win in March.”
This Duke team isn’t trying to be best friends. They’re trying to win. And according to sources, this moment marked a turning point in the team’s intensity this offseason.
> “That’s what we’ve been waiting for — somebody to raise the bar,” a team insider said. “And now everybody else has to match it.”
Young Guys Taking Notes
Freshman guard Dame Sarr, the 5-star Italian phenom, was seen locked in during the exchange — not backing away, not shrinking from the moment. If anything, the incident lit a fire in him, too.
One staffer noted:
> “Dame saw it and turned up his own energy. That kid’s a gamer. He’s not here to coast.”
Freshman forward Khaman Maluach and wing Kon Kneuppel also responded well, attacking drills with more aggression post-skirmish.
A Culture Taking Shape
This isn’t dysfunction — it’s development. Duke is building a new identity: tougher, hungrier, and unafraid of confrontation. And it starts with leaders like Foster and Evans setting the emotional tone.
As Stewart later told teammates in the locker room:
> “Better we go at each other now… so no one can stop us later.”
The Bigger Picture
Duke fans should want this kind of energy. It means the team cares. It means players are pushing each other. And it means the message from Scheyer is sinking in:
This isn’t a country club. It’s a battleground.
The Blue Devils aren’t just preparing for games. They’re preparing for war. And if that means a few heated moments in August? So be it.
Because come February — when the lights are brightest — they’ll be ready. Together. Tougher. Sharper.
And nobody will want to face them.
