Kolek, Marquette get ‘major’ on way to Sweet 16

• Ben Infant, ESPN Personnel WriterMar 24, 2024, 04:14 PM ET

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  Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most just recently at The Dallas Early Morning News where he covered college sports. He offers everyday protection of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while emerging on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL programs and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism teacher at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Reporters Association (AAJA).

INDIANAPOLIS– Marquette guard Tyler Kolek was determined to wake the program up from its extended March slumber.The Golden Eagles

hadn’t made it out of the very first weekend of the guys’s NCAA tournament because 2013. Kolek was determined to change that, and provided in an 81-77 win over Colorado on Sunday.The senior had 21 points and 11 helps against the

No. 10-seeded Buffaloes– his second double-double in as numerous games during this competition– and assisted No. 2 seed Marquette punch its ticket for Dallas, where it will satisfy NC State on Friday.For this group of players, Kolek said Sunday’s win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was a”long time coming,

“including that”returning this year we had a revenge. I informed the guys before the game, ‘This minute has actually been in our problems and we’re not running from it any longer.'”In his second game because returning from an oblique injury that had actually kept him out given that Feb. 28, Kolek played all however

26 seconds of Sunday’s win over Colorado(26-11 ). Throughout one stretch in the 2nd half, he scored or assisted on 4 straight ownerships when Marquette(27-9 )suddenly found itself trailing.The Golden Eagles led 45-34 at halftime as Colorado had a hard time to knock down 3-pointers. But after the Buffaloes discovered their type in the 2nd half, including three containers

from junior guard KJ Simpson, Colorado took a 55-54 lead.Kolek immediately responded with back-to-back buckets that offered Marquette the lead again. His efficiency likewise steadied the Golden Eagles as junior guard Kam Jones battled nasty difficulty for the entire 2nd half.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Kolek, who led the NCAA in helps per game during the regular season, said the offense went through him a bit more than typical. And when he found open teammates, they knocked down their shots and kept Colorado from making its first

Sugary food 16 look given that the competition

expanded to 64 groups in 1985. Buffaloes coach Little bit Boyle said keeping Kolek off his preferred left hand was a point of emphasis for its defense. He still handled to go 4-for-4 in the first half when driving to his left, Boyle stated.”You appreciate him on film, then you appreciate him with his numbers, “Boyle stated.

“But then you bet him, and you resemble,’Holy cow, that kid is special.’He’s an excellent player.”Simpson, who Boyle stated was worthy of the very same honors as Kolek, had 20 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Simpson was the one who hit

the game winner against 7-seed Florida on Friday to put Colorado in Sunday’s second-round game.Jones included 18 points for Marquette, with 16 coming in the first half, and junior forward David Joplin scored 14 to send Marquette and coach Shaka Smart to the next round in Dallas.This will mark Smart’s very first Sugary food 16 look because he led Virginia Commonwealth to the Last 4 in 2011. Any pleasure he felt after the game, he stated, was because of how this year’s Marquette squad battled together through key injuries, consisting of the one to Kolek.”Relationships is our number one advantage, which’s just something that our company believe in,” Smart stated.” I believe it won us the game today. “Kolek kept any smiles to a minimum. Even after the game, when the news conference moderator asked him if he wanted to take his NCAA placard with him, Kolek pleasantly pointed out that he had a comparable one bearing his name in the Marquette locker room.After falling brief in previous years, the only thing worth grinning about was ensuring the Golden Eagles extended their season for another weekend. “This isn’t a time to be joking

around,”Kolek stated.”I’m as major guy as it is. I like to have fun, however when it comes to crunch time, you’ve got to be serious. It’s win or go home. That’s all it is. “