Smart’s Team Is #2 In The South Region

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

By Samori Benjamin

The 10th ranked team in the country the Marquette Golden Eagles advanced to the Finals of the big East Tournament last Friday night with a 79-68 win over the Providence Friars.  Providence played Marquette to a 37-37 tie in the second half but the 11-point margin in the first half was the difference in the game.  “We know there’s are a lot of things we’re going to need to do better if we want to be able to win tomorrow night, but this group, we played five games now without Tyler,” Said Marquette Head Coach Shaka Smart after the win, referring to the oblique injury that has sidelined the team’s second leading scorer Tyler Kolek.  “Really proud of the way that our guys have found ways to compete and found ways to win games.”  Guard Kam Jones had a game high 23 points for the Golden Eagles and forward Oso Ighodara added 20 points. 

Marquette had the challenge of facing College Basketball’s reigning National Champions the University of Connecticut in the Big East Final last Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Last year Marquette upset UConn in the Semifinals 70-68.  This is the first time in Marquette history that they will be playing for back-to-back conference tournament titles. “The biggest thing, is like every game we come in expecting it to be a war,” Smart said as he pondered Saturday night’s championship matchup. “That’s the mindset we have and it’s all about winning. None of us care about it being pretty.  We just want to win the game.”