The #8 Marquette Golden Eagles will host the #2 UCONN Huskies on Senior Night and the two seniors being honored this year are point guard Tyler Kolek and forward Oso Ighodaro. Both of these basketball players have meant so much to the basketball program over the past four seasons.
The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1, but fans are required to be in their seats by 7:15 CT to honor Kolek and Ighodaro. They both helped Marquette win the Big East Regular Season title and also the Big East Tournament title as well.
Tomorrow, we honor two men who helped establish our culture.
Be in your seats at 7:15pm tomorrow as we honor all of their contributions!#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/kFNVkil3ZJ
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 5, 2024
Marquette has a chance to win the Big East Conference tournament this season. The UCONN Huskies have already won the Big East regular season title. Entering this matchup, UCONN is 26-3 overall and 16-2 in Big East Conference Play.
As for the Marquette Golden Eagles, they have a 22-7 overall record and a 13-5 record in Big East Conference play. Tyler Kolek will not play on Senior Night due to an oblique injury, but head coach Shaka Smart hopes to have him back in time for the Big East Tournament on March 14.
Kolek last season won the Big East Player of the Year and will probably be on first-team All-Big East. However, the honor for Big East Player of the Year feels like it will go to Stephon Castle of the UCONN Huskies.
Tyler Kolek this year for Marquette played in 28 games and averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.6 APG, 0.1 BPG, and 1.6 SPG. He also shot 48.6% from the field and also shot 40.0% from three. Kolek is also second all-time in assists in Marquette’s history.
Marquette Golden Eagles Tyler Kolek Also Had a Great Teammate Along the Way in Oso Ighodaro
Over the past four years at Marquette, Kolek always had Oso Ighodaro by his side. He also played a huge role in the program last season. Ighodaro was second-team All-Big East and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was named to that team again this season.
Oso Ighodaro has also played in 28 games this season for the Marquette Golden Eagles and is averaging 14.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 BPG, and 1.1 SPG. Ighodaro has been the glue guy for this basketball program and he and Tyler Kolek will be missed big time at the college.
When the 2024-2025 season comes, their leadership is going to be missed big time inside the Golden Eagles locker room. They will both have their names etched in the Golden Eagles’ history forever. The only thing missing for them is a Final Four appearance and a National Title. Even if it doesn’t end that way, they deserve to be celebrated also.