“I was bummed to see that”: Duke’s Jon Scheyer expresses empathy for Tony Bennett after retirement decision

Tony Bennett stepped down from his role as head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers last Thursday. The update came just under three weeks before the basketball program's 2024-25 season opener. Even though the timing of Bennett’s retirement is shocking, the veteran coach has cultivated a strong rapport during his 15 years at the helm.

When Jon Scheyer, head coach of ACC rival Duke, was probed about Bennett’s resignation, the coach reflected on his competitive history with Bennett and his impact on the game.

“I was bummed to see that. I was bummed,” Jon Scheyer shared with Andy Katz. “One huge fan, ton of respect for Tony."

"He came to Virginia my senior year at Duke as a player. So, for his 15 seasons, I’ve competed against him 12 of 15 years as a player or as a coach. And we have had some big-time battles against many teams in the league but no games are tougher than playing Virginia.”

Jon Scheyer also expressed his understanding of Bennett's perspective regarding his sudden exit, noting that college basketball will feel the absence of the 2019 NCAA championship-winning coach.

For now, Virginia’s reins have been passed on to Ron Sanchez, an assistant coach who has worked with Bennett for years. The interim coach is well versed in Bennett’s schemes and practices to maintain the standard of the Cavaliers, but he'll need to demonstrate his capabilities this season to earn a permanent role with the program.

Tony Bennett was a problem for Jon Scheyer and Duke in the ACC

Tony Bennett enabled Virginia to win 10 NCAA tournament bids, six ACC regular-season titles and two tournament championships. He made UVA the most consistent non-blue-blood school that consistently kept Duke on its toes, be it against Jon Scheyer or Mike Krzyzewski.

Since the 2019-20 season, UVA has recorded a 3-4 record against the Blue Devils, frequently testing the program in the ACC.

Virginia holds a 1-2 record against the Scheyer-led Blue Devils, with two of those games being pivotal moments in Duke’s season.

On February 11, 2023, Bennett led his team to a dramatic victory over Duke, overcoming a significant deficit to win 69-62 in overtime. A month later, in March, Duke bounced back by winning the ACC championship game against Tony Bennett’s squad.