INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Marquette men’s basketball skulked back into the locker room after a sloppy first half in its NCAA Tournament opener against Western Kentucky.
The Golden Eagles were trailing by seven points, 43-36, and the high-tempo Hilltoppers finished the opening 20 minutes on an extended 22-5 run.
Shaka Smart knew he needed to do something to get his team out of its 39.4% shooting rut, so he did what any head coach would — he reached for his pot of poker chips.