Cumberland native Tyler Kolek a perfect fit for Marquette University

PROVIDENCE — Marquette remains red-hot entering this weekend’s showdown with Providence, and the prime facilitator for the Golden Eagles is a Cumberland native.

Tyler Kolek grew up in a family of Friars season-ticket holders. Now some of those same patrons will be paying to watch him take the floor at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The rescheduled 12:30 p.m. tip on Sunday will see a pair of Big East teams in the ascendancy preparing to lock horns.

“Just the atmosphere,” Kolek said, when he was asked what he looked forward to the most. “Just being back landing at T.F. Green. Driving the same streets I always drive. Heading up to The Dunk where I used to always watch games when I was a kid.”

Marquette delivered quite the stunner when it blew out Providence, 88-56, on Jan. 4. The Golden Eagles had lost four straight overall and were 0-3 in league play. It was just the second defeat of the season for the 17th-ranked Friars, and nothing suggested they were walking into a thumping.

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Hindsight being what it is, the result makes a bit more sense. Marquette (15-6, 7-3) is up to No. 22 in the Associated Press poll thanks to a seven-game winning streak, and Kolek has played a key role. He’s one of the top assist men on one of the nation’s most unselfish teams, a point guard whose game continues to improve by leaps and bounds.

“We were maybe seven plays from being 3-0 in those games,” Kolek said. “There was a sense of disappointment in everybody. Just wanting more — we came out on fire that game.”

Kolek assists on 36.4% of field goals while he’s on the floor — that's in the top 20 nationally. The Golden Eagles record assists on 65.8% of field goals, trailing only Lafayette. Arizona, Tennessee, Michigan State and Purdue are among the power teams toward the top end of that list.

“We don’t really run many set plays,” Kolek said. “It’s more actions to get you into spots. Just having a good feel for how the game is played really helps me out a lot.

“If I’m driving through the lane, I’m more throwing to a spot where I know the guy is going to be. If I see an open area, I just trust my teammates to get to those spots that we practice every day.”

The Clippers needed Kolek to function as their primary scorer, and he helped lead them to the Ryan Center and the Final Four of the Interscholastic League state boys basketball tournament in 2017-18. Kolek followed by prepping at St. George’s and was the NEPSAC Class B Player of the Year.

Those accolades didn’t necessarily translate to elite programs chasing the 6-foot-3-inch left-hander in recruiting. Kolek was a solid mid-major prospect who committed to George Mason for the 2020-21 season. He broke out to become the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year with the Patriots, and their firing of head coach Dave Paulsen convinced Kolek to enter the transfer portal.

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The list of schools chasing Kolek was more prominent the second time around. His 20th birthday in March came with a pleasant surprise — a personal phone call from Marquette coach Shaka Smart. An NCAA Tournament qualifier at VCU and Texas previously, Smart had sealed his move from the Longhorns to the Golden Eagles the previous day and was quickly at work assembling his first roster.

“My first game at Marquette would be his first game at Marquette,” Kolek said. “He wanted to go in together and build it together. That’s what we’re doing. We’ve got a good foundation.”

Providence (17-2, 7-1) was focused elsewhere in the transfer portal, landing Indiana graduate guard Al Durham and pursuing Florida guard Noah Locke, among others. Kolek said he heard more frequently from Smart than any other head coach, and the Friars were his only local option — the University of Rhode Island was never involved. Locke committed to Louisville on April 11 and Kolek — before Providence could reclaim a place among the contenders — pledged to Marquette three days later.

“I have no ill will,” Kolek said. “[Ed] Cooley is a great coach. He and my dad used to play together — they're good friends. I wish them all the best. Marquette was just the perfect choice for me.

“I chose right the first time going to George Mason and I chose right the second time coming to Marquette. It’s the best spot for me that could have happened.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI native Tyler Kolek playing for Marquette at The Dunk vs. PC