Marquette’s Kolek participating in full-court drills

Mar 20, 2024, 04:34 PM ET

MILWAUKEE– Marquette coach Shaka Smart says star guard Tyler Kolek has been practicing in 5-on-5 drills this week as the 2023 Big East player of the year gets ready to return from an oblique injury.Kolek has missed out on Marquette’s last six games, but Smart has revealed self-confidence the Associated Press All-America second-team choice would be back for the NCAA Competition. Marquette (25-9), the No. 2 seed in the South Region, deals with Western Kentucky( 22-11 )on Friday in Indianapolis.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated” He has actually gone live, he has gone 5-on-5 up-and-down fullcourt

,”Smart stated Wednesday before the group left school.” He’s done a lot of good ideas. “Kolek has 7.6 helps per game to rank

second amongst all Department I players. The 6-foot-3 guard also is averaging 15 points and 4.7 rebounds.He injured his oblique during a 91-69 triumph over

Providence on Feb. 28. Marquette went 3-3 in the games Kolek missed, with two of the losses coming to NCAA Competition No. 1 seed UConn.Smart kept in mind there would be an adjustment procedure for Kolek after missing out on three weeks, but the coach was motivated by what he saw in practice.”He appeared like himself,” Smart said.Kolek’s health also was a concern in last season’s NCAA Competition. He hurt his thumb in Marquette

‘s first-round victory over Vermont.

Kolek continued to play but wasn’t nearly as effective as typical in a second-round loss to Michigan State.