NC State NCAA Tournament opponent scouting report: Marquette

image_6483441 (3)by:Noah Fleischman•03/27/24•

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Tyler Kolek
Marquette Golden Eagles forward David Joplin (23) and Marquette Golden Eagles guard Tyler Kolek (11) celebrate after NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game against the Colorado Buffaloes, Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Marquette Golden Eagles won 81-77.

Picture this: NC State head coach Shaka Smart. That was nearly a reality in 2011 after Sidney Lowe was let go, but Smart ended up signing an extension at VCU, which he took to the Final Four earlier that year. Smart eventually left his first head coaching job for Texas and is now at Marquette, a team that he has clicking on all cylinders. Now, Smart will face off with the Wolfpack, a team that offered him his first Power Five job, in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in Dallas.  Here’s a scouting report on Marquette ahead of NC State’s first trip to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2015.