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Big East Basketball: 10 key questions looming for 2021-22 season

By Jerran Anderson

Jan 8, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Georgetown Hoyas head coach Patrick Ewing talks with team against the St. John's Red Storm during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Georgetown Hoyas head coach Patrick Ewing talks with team against the St. John's Red Storm during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Shaka Smart Big East Basketball Ebony Cox/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
Shaka Smart Big East Basketball Ebony Cox/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK /

10. Can Shaka Smart turn things around for Marquette?

The Marquette Golden Eagles will be under new direction in 2021-22 with head coach Shaka Smart taking over. Smart is still a mixed bag on the sidelines, depending on who you ask.

While he’s seen success in the NCAA Tournament with the VCU Rams, it didn’t exactly translate in his tenure with the Texas Longhorns, though he made three NCAA Tournament appearances from 2015-21.

Still, Smart managed to leave on his own terms after arguably his best season with the Longhorns in 2020-21. The Longhorns went 19-8 on the year and earned a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Conference Tournament crown. It didn’t translate though as they were upset by No. 14 Abilene Christian.

With a clean slate in the Big East basketball ranks, Smart looks to turn things around for the Golden Eagles. Graduate transfer Darryl Morsell (Maryland) will be a marquee name to know as will Tyler Kolek (George Mason).

Morsell was last season’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and put up 9.0 ppg and 2.8 apg. Kolek was last season’s Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year in 2020-21, starting in 18-of-22 games and averaging 10.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 2.3 apg.

Smart will have his early tests in 2021-22 with Illinois on the schedule on Nov. 5 and in another home game against the UCLA Bruins on Dec. 11.

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