As Marquette gets back into defense following an offensive basket, sophomore guard Stevie Mitchell lingers alongside the Golden Eagles sideline lined up with head coach Shaka Smart. He grins a little. He is ready to add to the deflections count with a steal or a stop.
Then the 6-foot-2 guard gets into his defensive stance. He sets his feet, crouches down and slaps the floor. It’s an Energy Generating Behavior.
“I always say he’s not a pitbull but when he got that puppy love and that nagging puppy face I’m like ‘Okay Stevie, he’s locked into his circle right now,’” assistant coach DeAndre Haynes said.