Duquesne’s Three Seniors ‘Weighing Options’ about Returning for 2021-22

RICHMOND, Va. — Duquesne’s 2020-21 season came to an end on Friday with the Dukes’ quarterfinal loss to St. Bonaventure in the 2021 Atlantic-10 tournament.

What comes next for the program will be a hope for a return to normalcy after a season significantly impacted by several COVID-19 pauses that saw the Dukes play just 18 games.

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But the COVID-19 pandemic will have at least one impact that will carry into 2021-22. This season of eligibility won’t count for players, which means that Duquesne’s seniors have a decision to make about their futures.
Tavian Dunn-Martin, Mike Hughes and Marcus Weathers can choose to use that additional season of eligibility at Duquesne, where they would not count against the team’s 13-player scholarship limit.

They could also transfer to another team, though they would count towards that team’s scholarship maximum, or seek professional careers.

Asked about there futures immediately after the loss to St. Bonaventure, Hughes and Weathers gave differing answers.

“The season just ended like 15 minutes, so I’d rather be out enjoying this season before I even started thinking about another one,” Hughes said.

“I definitely think there’s definitely a possibility of coming back,” Weathers said. “It’s just about weighing those options and just like Mike said, our season just ended not too long ago.”

Dunn-Martin, who was not selected to speak with the media, posted on Twitter about his Duquesne career in the past tense.
“I loved every moment in that Dukes uniform,” he wrote.

I appreciate all the support, and you guys made my experience so much better! I loved every moment in that dukes uniform! Thanks for sticking with us through good and bad! Much love ❤️ GO DUKES !!!! https://t.co/KPM1Cj39aL

— Ⓣⓐⓣⓞ 💫 (@nolimitTDM_11) March 5, 2021

The ability to return one or several of the Dukes’ big trio of seniors could go a long way to improving the outlook for the club next season. Though freshmen such as Tyson Acuff, Chad Baker Mikey Bekelja, Andre Harris and Toby Okani got significant playing time throughout this season, the Dukes would still be looking at a young roster next season if none of the three seniors choose to return.

Sparingly used Austin Rotroff is set to become the team’s only senior, while shooting guard Maceo Austin and power forward Amari Kelly, who both played bench roles down the stretch this season, will be juniors.