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A Season Ends in Heartbreak
A somber Jon Scheyer struggled to put Duke’s season-ending loss to UConn into words after a late-game collapse sent the Blue Devils home one win shy of the Final Four .
“I don’t have the words for you, man,” a visibly shaken Scheyer told reporters following the 74-71 defeat on March 29 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. “Just a really tough one. I’m so proud of this group. But just a really tough one” .
Duke (31-5) entered as the No. 1 overall seed with expectations of cutting down the nets in San Antonio. Instead, they became the latest victim of a UConn program that has now ended four straight Blue Devils seasons .
How the Game Slipped Away
The Blue Devils led by as many as 10 points in the second half and still held a 66-60 advantage with 4:34 remaining . But the Huskies closed the game on a 14-5 run , forcing critical turnovers and hitting timely shots down the stretch .
| Team | Final Minutes |
|---|---|
| Duke | 66-60 lead at 4:34 |
| UConn | 14-5 closing run |
| Final | 74-71 Huskies |
National Player of the Year candidate Cameron Boozer finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds but had his final shot attempt blocked by UConn forward Alex Karaban in the closing seconds . Duke’s perimeter shooting abandoned them when it mattered most—they made just one of their last nine attempts from beyond the arc .
Scheyer’s Message to His Team
In a quiet locker room, Scheyer addressed his players with a message that will linger into the offseason: “We’ve got to take the pain of this loss and use it as fuel for next year” .
The third-year head coach was consoled on the court by UConn’s Dan Hurley, who has now eliminated Duke three consecutive seasons . The two embraced in a moment that underscored the growing rivalry between programs that have combined for nine national championships .
“I told him I loved his team, loved how they fought,” Hurley said postgame. “Jon is building a program that’s going to be back in this position again” .
What’s Next for Duke
Duke will enter next season with significant questions after Boozer’s likely departure for the NBA Draft, but Scheyer has already begun emphasizing what he called “the most important thing to me” : processing the pain of this loss and using it as fuel .
“They gave everything they had,” Scheyer said. “These guys, they’re my guys. There’s no other group I’d rather go to battle with. Just a tough one to swallow” .
