The Big East tournament took an unexpected turn for Marquette Golden Eagles as their star point guard Tyler Kolek was ruled out for the quarterfinals due to an oblique muscle injury. The news, confirmed by head coach Shaka Smart, sent shockwaves through the Marquette faithful, who had high hopes for a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Kolek, a senior from Rhode Island, has been the driving force behind Marquette’s impressive season, averaging 16.
As the madness of March descends upon college basketball, the Marquette Golden Eagles find themselves navigating a delicate balance between present aspirations and future goals. In a move that underscores their long-term ambitions, head coach Shaka Smart has ruled out senior guard Tyler Kolek for the Big East quarterfinals, opting for caution over immediate gratification.
The decision, though undoubtedly difficult, speaks volumes about the Golden Eagles’ mindset as they prepare for the looming NCAA Tournament.
Marquette’s star point guard Tyler Kolek has been ruled out for the Big East Tournament quarterfinals as the Golden Eagles’ coaching staff prioritizes his recovery from an oblique injury ahead of the looming NCAA Tournament.
Kolek, a senior and potential All-American, has been sidelined since exiting Marquette’s February 28th home game against Providence with the oblique issue. Head coach Shaka Smart provided an update on Kolek’s status during Wednesday’s media availability, confirming he will not play in Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup.
In a classic March Madness nail-biter, senior guard Justin Moore drained a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with under 9 seconds left to lift Villanova past underdog DePaul 58-57 in the opening round of the Big East Tournament.
The heavily favored Wildcats looked headed for a disastrous early exit against the 3-win Blue Demons before Moore’s heroics bailed them out. His calm, cold-blooded triple from the top of the key completed a gritty comeback for Villanova and staved off an embarrassing season-ending loss.
In a nerve-wracking Big East Tournament opener, the Villanova Wildcats stared down the barrel of a humiliating first-round exit against the lowly DePaul Blue Demons. With their season on the brink, Justin Moore etched his name into March lore, draining a cold-blooded go-ahead three-pointer with under nine ticks remaining to propel Villanova to a dramatic 58-57 victory.
This pulsating back-and-forth affair was a far cry from the Wildcats’ previous romps over DePaul, with the cellar-dwelling Blue Demons mounting an inspired underdog effort.
