Duke Blue Devils Coach Jon Scheyer Suspends 3 Key Players for Marijuana Use and Verbal Misconduct
Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer has announced the suspension of three key players for violations related to marijuana use and verbal misconduct.
The suspensions come at a crucial time for the Blue Devils as they prepare for important upcoming games in their already competitive college basketball season.
The players involved, who have not been officially named by the program, were allegedly found to have violated team policies related to substance abuse and behavioral expectations.
According to sources close to the program, the marijuana use occurred off-campus and was discovered through routine checks conducted by the coaching staff.
Additionally, verbal misconduct during a recent team meeting led to further disciplinary actions, with the players’ actions reportedly undermining team morale and the program’s standards of respect and accountability.
Coach Scheyer, who is in his second year as head coach at Duke after taking over from legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, expressed his disappointment in the players’ behavior but emphasized the importance of upholding the team’s values.
“We have high standards for our student-athletes, both on and off the court. These actions do not reflect the expectations we set for our program, and there will be consequences. We are committed to teaching these young men the importance of responsibility and respect,” Scheyer said in a statement.
While the exact length of the suspensions has not been disclosed, it is expected that the players will miss several games, including some of the Blue Devils’ more high-profile matchups.
This suspension could have significant implications for Duke’s performance in the highly competitive ACC, as these players were expected to be crucial contributors in the team’s pursuit of a strong postseason run.
The suspensions come at a time when the NCAA continues to scrutinize substance use in college sports, particularly as marijuana use has become more common in certain states where it is legalized.
However, the NCAA maintains strict policies against marijuana use by student-athletes, and Duke, like many other programs, holds its athletes to a higher standard.
The Blue Devils will now have to adjust their lineup and depth chart as they move forward without the suspended players. The team is expected to rely more heavily on their remaining upperclassmen and freshmen to step up in their absence. Coach Scheyer has indicated that the players involved will undergo counseling and other support measures to help them learn from the incident and rejoin the team in good standing once their suspensions are served.
Duke fans will be watching closely as the program navigates this setback, hoping that it will only strengthen the team’s resolve moving forward.
