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The Marquette Golden Eagles are heading to the Sweet 16 after a tough battle with the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The 81-77 win wasn’t easy, even when Marquette held an 11-point lead at halftime. It came down to key plays in crunch time, and veteran guard Tyler Kolek hit a pair of clutch baskets to preserve Marquette’s lead and eventually heard the final buzzer sound in their favor.
After the game, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart spoke with CBS’s Andy Katz, and he couldn’t contain his emotions as Katz found himself choking.
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Shaka Smart, the head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles, gives a hug to No. 11 seed Tyler Kolek during the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – First Round – Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 22, 2024. in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“Just gratitude. Gratitude for these guys, our fans, our guys who keep fighting, and now we get to keep playing,” Smart said as he tried to hold back tears.
Smart’s emotion is what makes him such a great coach, whether it was at VCU during their 2011 Final Four run or wearing his heart on his sleeve during the loss to the University of Texas – a team he has never won an NCAA title with. tournament game won with.
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In his third season at Marquette, Smart is finally back in the Sweet 16 after not winning a tournament game in his first season and failing to reach the second round last year.
Head coach Shaka Smart of the Marquette Golden Eagles celebrates a turnover against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half in the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
“So grateful that our guys just stuck with it,” Smart said of his team on Sunday. “There were so many moments where we could have succeeded. We’ve been through a lot of adversity this year. It was perfect for us to have (Kolek) come back just in time. He led the way, and his faith and steadfastness really rubbed off on our other players.” guys.”
As Smart’s team now heads home before heading to Dallas for the Sweet 16, Katz asked what kept him going, and if the tears didn’t tell you enough, his words certainly did.
“Love. I love these guys,” he said. “I don’t want this season to end, that’s the most important thing. So now we get a few more days. Go home and rest. Go to Dallas.”
Marquette Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart reacts against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half of the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Marquette will prepare to face No. 11 NC State, a team that continues to make a Cinderella run. They defeated No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 14 Oakland to reach the Sweet 16.
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