FILE - Marquette’s Tyler Kolek plays during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Villanova, Pa. Kolek was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.Marquette’s Tyler Kolek tries to get past Providence’s Garwey Dual during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Milwaukee. Marquette’s Tyler Kolek shoots between Providence’s Josh Oduro and Corey Floyd Jr.
“He has gone live, he has gone 5-on-5 up-and-down fullcourt,” Smart said Wednesday before the team left campus. “He’s done a lot of good things.” Kolek has 7.6 assists per game to rank second among all Division I players. The 6-foot-3 guard also is averaging 15 points and 4.7 rebounds.over Providence on Feb. 28. Marquette went 3-3 in the games Kolek missed, with two of the losses coming to NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed UConn.
Smart noted there would be an adjustment process for Kolek after missing three weeks, but the coach was encouraged by what he saw in practice.Kolek’s health also was an issue in last season’s NCAA Tournament. He injured his thumb in Marquette’s