It’s been a crazy March in the NCAA Tournament. The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils were eliminated by the UConn Huskies on Sunday after a heartbreaking buzzer-beater to ice the game.
Despite the upsetting loss, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gave Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer his flowers and believes he’ll have another opportunity to prove himself as one of the best coaches in basketball.
Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Reassures Duke’s Jon Scheyer After NCAA Tournament Exit
On March 29, the Huskies eliminated the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. It was a jaw-dropping victory by the Huskies after their freshman Braylon Mullins hit a huge 3-point bomb to secure a 73-72 victory.
The heartbreaking shot took place after Duke’s Cayden Boozer committed a turnover on a sloppy cross-court pass. To make things worse, the Blue Devils once held a 19-point lead, making their defeat even more painful.
While Duke supporters are upset with the humiliating loss, Celtics head coach Mazzulla remained optimistic about the situation. While he understands how painful it is to lose after coming close to winning, Mazzulla believes Blue Devils head coach Scheyer will bring success to the team again in the seasons to come.
“Yeah, for me, having [Celtics assistant coach Amile Jefferson] and having Jayson [Tatum], I’ve gotten to know Jon Scheyer,” Mazzulla said. “Honestly, I think he’s one of the best coaches, you know, in the country, in the game of basketball, regardless of level, and what he’s been able to do at a young age and taking over such a historic program and keeping it exactly where it is.”
“I learn every time I watch one of his teams play, and I know he’s going to have his time to shine,” Mazzulla added. “But right now, it’s just chipping away at the resilience and the perspective that’s needed, so I can’t wait to continue to watch him and how he gets better. But he’s one of my favorite coaches to watch, and I’ve got a ton of respect for him.”
I just asked Joe Mazzulla if he knew exactly how the UConn-Duke game ended when he left the locker room last night at halftime… pic.twitter.com/Ouqw6LKxmj
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) March 30, 2026
Despite their heartbreaking loss, it seems nothing is going to stop the Blue Devils’ Cameron Boozer from entering the 2026 NBA Draft. After averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in his freshman season, many see him as one of the top prospects to enter the league next season.
