North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton is preparing his Eagles to face Iowa State on Friday in the NCAA tournament without his family by his side in San Antonio.
Moton said his 1-year-old son spilled hot coffee on his face Tuesday and remains in the hospital. He did not describe his son's condition but noted that his wife and daughter also stayed behind.
Moton said his son knocked a cup off the counter and the hot coffee burned his face, the Raleigh News and Observer reported.
"I wasn't going to come until the doctors told me he was going to be OK," Moton said, according to the newspaper. "I had to get that clarification. I was going to stay. I spent the night in the hospital with him. I wasn't leaving. I stayed at the hospital and went through the proper requirements and team of doctors."
Moton said he is battling through the situation.
"It just doesn't feel the same without my son, my daughter, my wife who have sacrificed so much to allow me to become a better person and a better basketball coach," Moton said. "That's put the pin in my balloon. I've got to get myself together, which I will."
NC Central is a No. 14 seed in the East Regional, with a second-round matchup Friday against third-seeded and Big 12 tournament champion Iowa State.
"We understand that this is big-boy basketball," Moton said. "We definitely have our hands full."
The Eagles have a 20-game win streak, a road win at North Carolina State and a close loss at Wichita State, the only undefeated team in the country and the No. 1 seed in the Midwest.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.