Most members of the Marquette Golden Eagles starting unit are seniors and some of them already spoke about emotional they would get about their last stint at the NCAA tournament.
Assistant coach DeAndre Haynes pretty much started at the same time as seniors Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell, David Joplin, and Ben Gold and this is why he, too, is emotional about this season.
His high emotions is amplified by the injury that he suffered last month, forcing him to miss the last regular season games and the Big East Tournament.
Talking to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he admitted that he cried for missing the tourney.
“It was kind of crazy because my kids were crying when we couldn’t go to the Big East (tournament),” he said. “I cried, too. It was a lot of tears.
“First time ever missing a game. Missing practice. Missing work. So it hurt. It’s painful not being with your team and players. Watching on TV sucks.”
DeAndre Haynes battles through pain to support Marquette Golden Eagles
Haynes is still in crutches but that will not stop him from supporting his team for four years.
He said he needs to be physically present in the NCAA tournament. He specifically mentioned the seniors who he went to battle with as his main motivation to travel with them.
“It’s emotional,” Haynes said. “I get teary-eyed every time I think about those guys. Because it’s the second school I’ve been at where you finish with them all four years, get to see them walk across the stage. You get to see them chase their dreams.”
The Golden Eagles will face New Mexico Lobos in the first round.
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