Marquette’s Kolek to be prepared for NCAA tourney

• Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterMar 13, 2024, 03:35 PM ET

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  • Basketball recruiting insider.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.Marquette star guard

Tyler Kolek, who missed the final 3 games of the regular season with an oblique injury, is expected to be all set for the NCAA competition, coach Shaka Smart said Wednesday.Kolek will not play in the Golden Eagles ‘Big East competition game on Thursday, however he’s questionable for the remainder of the tourney. As the 3-seed, they play the winner of Villanova vs. DePaul in the quarterfinals.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated” He’s still day-to-day and not intending on playing tomorrow, however he

‘s close

,”Smart stated. “He practiced for part of our session today, and he’s been working out and continues to get treatment. The strategy is absolutely for him to play next week, and he’s truly made good development. “Smart also informed the Milwaukee Journal Guard, “If today was the championship game

game, he would be playing. “The 6-foot-3 senior suffered the injury in a Feb. 28 win over Providence before missing out on the remainder of the regular season. At the time, the school stated Kolek would be reevaluated before the Big East tournament.Kolek, a first-team All-Big East selection and a second-team All-American according to ESPN, is one of the nation’s premier point player. He’s leading the country in assists this season and ranked 3rd a year earlier, while likewise averaging 15.0 points and 4.7 rebounds.The previous George Mason transfer balanced 20.4 points and 9.6 assists during Marquette’s eight-game winning streak in Big East play earlier this season and had 18 assists against DePaul on Feb. 21. Kolek’s accessibility might be something that enters into factor to consider for the NCAA competition choice committee when it figures out Marquette’s seed.

As it stands, the Golden Eagles are a predicted 2-seed.