Cumberland’s Tyler Kolek Named Big East Player of the Year

Cumberland’s Tyler Kolek Named Big East Player of the Year

Cumberland native and Marquette Junior Tyler Kolek has been named Big East Player of the Year. 

Kolek attended St. George’s and was the 2019 RI Gatorade Player of the Year.

Marquette Coach Shaka Smart was also voted unanimously Big East Coach of the Year. 

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According to the Big East: 

Kolek is MU’s maestro point guard, averaging 12.7 points and a league-leading 7.9 assists, which ranks second nationally.  The 6-3 junior from Cumberland, R.I., ranks first in assist/turnover ratio at 3.3., which places him sixth in the nation. He is fifth in the Big East in steals at 1.8 and ninth in free throw shooting, making 81.4 percent. Kolek is one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.

Smart’s squad made the biggest leap in league history, jumping from ninth in the preseason coaches’ poll to outright regular-season champion. The Golden Eagles are expected to receive a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. In his second season at Marquette, Smart has directed the Golden Eagles to a 44-19 overall record and a 28-11 Big East mark. He owns a career record of 316-161 (.662) in 14 seasons as a head coach.