“I didn’t help them enough. That’s where my mind goes,” said Jon Scheyer in the aftermath of Duke’s March Madness loss against the Houston Cougars. While the coach admitted that he wasn’t going to feel sorry over how his players performed in the recent game, and over the series, he did admit to a few lapses from his side. In the days that followed, so would several college basketball fans. It was no secret that following in Coach K’s steps would be a big task. However, having gotten the team so close in the March Madness series, and then letting the championship game slip away, put Scheyer in a bad light. In light of this, the front office has now made a decision that would go a long way in helping the coach prepare for the next season.
According to reports, the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball squad is now ready to reload itself with $8M-$10M that had been made available in NIL for the 2025-26 roster! In fact, according to one unspecified source, the NIL war chest is ‘unlimited’. This means that the university is putting major resources on the basketball team to ensure that next year, it finally gets to possess the NCAA championship title for the first time since 2015.
Fresh new funds are highly needed now. The Duke Blue Devils squad just let go of their best chance to secure the NCAA championship title for the 2nd time in the last decade. Things are going to be much different next season onwards, as star players Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Kon Knueppel are expected to declare for the upcoming NBA draft, and even be taken in as first-round picks. Even Isaiah Evans and Tyrese Proctor could potentially leave for the NBA. Meanwhile, Mason Gillis is expected to graduate. Therefore, to once again be in a fighting position in the competition, Duke will have to add depth and talent, one method for which is influencing high-school stars through NIL deals.
NEW: Following its Final Four exit, Duke is ready to reload with $8M-$10M available in NIL for the 2025-26 roster, @PeteNakos_ reports
One source described the NIL war chest as “unlimited.”
Story: https://t.co/7EA13Btphy pic.twitter.com/imLYnhV3ac
— On3 (@On3sports) April 6, 2025
Issue with securing a proper NIL Deal for the team has affected quite a few college basketball franchises recently. According to reports, Nate Oats was inclined to part ways with the Alabama Crimson Tide, after coaching them since 2019, since he had “become increasingly frustrated with the NIL situation at Alabama, as most of the funds have been diverted to football”. Fortunately, Jon Scheyer is not expected to deal with a problem like this. Furthermore, with this recent update, Duke is now reportedly one of the most well-funded programs in college basketball. On3 highlighted that the Blue Devils have rarely lost out on a recruit or transfer target because of dollars since the NIL collective was founded. Therefore, landing another trio of players like Flagg, Maluach and Knueppel has been made easier now.
This new information should have been enough to make the Duke fan squad happy, right? Well, at least some of them. Others, meanwhile, believe that no amount of money could save the team until another thing is dealt with: the coach himself.
Basketball fans criticize Jon Scheyer despite major NIL news: “needs to make game-winning decisions”
One social media user made his criticism about the Duke Blue Devils head coach known by writing, “At some point the money produces diminishing returns. The coach still needs to make game-winning decisions and tactical moves with national championships on the line.”
At some point the money produces diminishing returns. The coach still needs to make game-winning decisions and tactical moves with national championships on the line.
— Phil Tortora (@PhilipTortora) April 7, 2025
The theme of doing well in the college season and during the first few games of March Madness, only to falter at a later stage, is not new for Duke. During Scheyer’s debut season, he was navigating through the issues of being a first-year head coach. Despite this, he still found a way to lead the team to an ACC Tournament Championship and win one NCAA Tournament game. Then, in the Round of 32, he faced some misfortune while playing the Tennessee team without Mark Mitchell, as the player was out due to an injury.
Last year, the Blue Devils lost to NC State in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. They found a fresh stride in the NCAA Tournament. However, as Ball Durham reporter Kevin Connelly revealed, that was more because of good fortune than skill. Therefore, until an NCAA title finally comes to Duke, Jon Scheyer may have difficulty winning over the fanbase.
One individual wrote, “Jon Scheyer couldn’t win a championship if his salary cap was higher than the lakers”. Well, the Lakers have been using a fresh face as a coach during the ongoing NBA season: JJ Redick. What makes him unique is that not only had he not coached any NBA team before his Lakers stint, he had not coached any professional basketball team at all! The now 40-year-old carved a 15-year-long NBA career, and then went straight to a role as a analyst, before being taken in by Jeanie Buss and co in 2024. Now, just as the regular season is in its final stages, the Lakers hold the 3rd seed on the Western Conference table. Therefore, if JJ Redick can do something like this, maybe one shouldn’t lose hope on Jon Scheyer yet.
One social media user wrote, “All that just to miss the tournament again”. In the aftermath of the Duke-Houston game, Scheyer admitted that Duke’s lack of experience in close games was an area where, he felt, he had dropped the ball. He iterated this viewpoint by stating, “We haven’t been in a lot of those games. We’ve watched a lot of games situations and practiced (it). That’s where I wish I could’ve helped them more.” With this lesson, with any hope, the coach improves things for the team next season.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: North Carolina at Duke Feb 1, 2025 Durham, North Carolina, USA Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer talks with forward Cooper Flagg 2 in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Durham Cameron Indoor Stadium North Carolina USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xZacharyxTaftx 20250201_gma_bx6_0453
One individual wrote that “Unfortunately Jon Scheyer is limited”. Sure, the coach has several areas in which he still needs to improve. This includes understanding the need to be more careful in the later part of the March Madness series. However, under his coaching, the team has continued to thrive as it did under Coach K. Today, he stands as the first coach to win two Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament titles in his first 3 seasons, and to reach last year’s NCAA Elite Eight.
One social media user wrote, “NIL is ruining college sports.” This is a belief held by many individuals, including some big names associated with college basketball. The Arkansas Razorbacks head coach, John Calipari, once said that “these kids, all of them, have pianos on their back. Because of NIL. Well, they’re paid, they should do this, and they’re trying to live up to expectations. It’s a piano. Families are involved more than ever before. Why? NIL.” Along with raising unnecessary expectations, NIL deals also gave the more well-funded teams an advantage over the others. This prevents ‘Cinderella’ teams from gaining talented recruits and gaining an edge during tournaments. Stephen A. Smith famously said about the rise of only non-underdog teams that “If this continues, it will be the death of college basketball”.
Overall, the majority of reactions saw fans not being too impressed with Jon Scheyer. With any hope, the opinion about him has changed. After all, he does not have to worry about any financial matters, for now.
The post Even $10M Splash Doesn’t Help Heal Duke Community’s Suffering as Calls Mount Against Jon Scheyer’s Bold NIL Approach appeared first on EssentiallySports.
