Jon Scheyer Sends Strong Message About Rick Pitino Before Duke-St. John’s Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Mohammad Asif Ansari | Last updated Mar 27, 2026 12:36 AM ET

Coach Jon Scheyer readies Duke for a dangerous postseason showdown. On Thursday, the veteran took to the podium in Washington to start the conversation about his roster. He did what any savvy leader would do — he built a resume of mutual respect for St. John's and coach Rick Pitino.

On Friday, top-seeded Duke plays No. 5 seed St. John's in the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena. It even happens with injuries, as guard Caleb Foster, who fractured his foot, remains a game-time decision. In fact, center Patrick Ngongba II expects to play despite a turbulent span. Scheyer praised the opponent.

“They have good depth. They’re playing so well together,” Scheyer said. “I think the best thing that they do is play with great confidence. They’re just relentless.”

Scheyer called St. John’s ‘relentless’ under Rick Pitino and said Duke can’t afford to relax at all. https://t.co/qhIYtbnGer
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 26, 2026

St. John's reached this stage following a victory over Kansas, surging with momentum after winning 21 of its last 22 games. Furthermore, Duke led the country in defense, whereas the Red Storm ranked eighth. Reflecting on the competitive basketball, Scheyer said:

“At the same time, that's been our strength. We don't want to get away from who we've been. You think about the schedule we've played, I think it's prepared us to be in moments like this, to understand what it takes.”

Coach Rick Pitino offered high praise for Duke.

“Quite frankly, in 52 years in this game, I’ve never seen a schedule like that in my coaching career,” Pitino spoke about Duke’s tough 2025‑26 schedule. “It’s an amazing schedule that they played. A few blemishes, but only a couple of games. It’s quite a testament to the basketball team and their staff that they not only played that type of schedule but to be victorious. We know we’re playing a great team.”

Meanwhile, St. John's prepared for freshman Cameron Boozer by mimicking his style. Controlling the backboard and limiting turnovers remains crucial. Finally, defense wins championships, and the winner advances to the Elite Eight on Sunday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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