Coach K’s Influence Lives On — How One Halftime Message from Jon Scheyer Changed Everything

Jon Scheyer has been around Duke basketball greatness for nearly two decades — first as a player, now as the program’s leader. And after years of watching Mike Krzyzewski work his magic, it’s clear Scheyer learned a few lessons from the legendary coach on how to get the best out of his players.

During Duke’s season-opening win over Texas in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, Scheyer put one of those lessons to use — and it completely flipped the game.

Freshman standout Cameron Boozer, who dominated both of Duke’s exhibition matchups, couldn’t find his rhythm early against the Longhorns. He missed all seven of his first-half shots and went into the locker room scoreless, with Duke trailing by one.

Then, Scheyer turned up the intensity.

“Scheyer challenged me at halftime and said I played soft, which was true,” Boozer said after the game. “Second half, I changed my mentality.”

That halftime challenge sparked a total turnaround. Boozer came out with a fire that couldn’t be missed — pouring in 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the second half alone as Duke outscored Texas by 16, winning 75–60.

The moment brought back memories of a classic Coach K tactic. Back in 2017, Krzyzewski called out Jayson Tatum during a sluggish first half at Virginia, famously referring to him as a “soft St. Louis kid.” Tatum responded with 21 points in the second half and led Duke to a gritty road win.

“He knew the buttons to push because the whole second half I was hot,” Tatum later recalled.

Scheyer clearly knew which buttons to press with Boozer too. And while the two moments were years apart, the message was the same — toughness wins at Duke.

Now, the Blue Devils hope Boozer’s second-half surge is just the start of something bigger. Much like Tatum, he has the talent and drive to become a program-defining star — and possibly a top-three NBA Draft pick next summer.

But for now, Boozer’s focus remains on the next challenge.