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Marquette Golden Eagles’ Tyler Kolek’s NCAA Tournament Participation Update

Marquette’s standout point guard, Tyler Kolek, has been absent from the court since February 28 due to an oblique injury, causing him to miss the team’s last six games, including the Big East Conference tournament where Marquette reached the final but fell to the UCONN Huskies.

During an interview with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, head coach Shaka Smart humorously responded to inquiries about Kolek’s status, jokingly mentioning the frequency of updates before affirming that Kolek is expected to return for Friday’s game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Despite Kolek’s absence, Marquette closed the season with a commendable 23-8 record, securing a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The team aims to advance further this time, eyeing a deep run in the tournament.

Kolek’s pivotal role is evident in his impressive regular-season stats, averaging 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game across 28 games. His return is crucial for Marquette’s ambitions, especially considering potential challenging matchups like the Florida Gators, known for their size, rebounding prowess, and skilled guard play.

Marquette’s bracket also features formidable opponents such as the 1-seed Houston Cougars and the 3-seed Kentucky Wildcats. A potential rematch with the Wisconsin Badgers in the Elite 8 adds further intrigue to Marquette’s tournament journey.

While Marquette boasts other reliable players like David Joplin, Oso Ighodaro, and Kam Jones, Kolek’s presence is deemed essential for the team’s success, potentially elevating them to the Final Four and beyond.