MU reaches its highest ranking since ’70s

The Marquette men's basketball team has already clinched at least a share of the Big East Conference title.

The Golden Eagles (23-6, 15-3 Big East) wrap up the regular season this week, but they have accomplished something the program hasn't done since the 1970s.

The Golden Eagles jumped up to No. 6 in the latest Associated Press top 25 that was released on Monday. MU was ranked 10th last week.

MU first entered the AP poll this season on Dec. 19. The Golden Eagles have been ranked every week since Jan. 9. Editor's note: Journal Sentinel beat writer Ben Steele had MU at No. 6 in his weekly ballot.

The Golden Eagles reached as high as eighth in the 2011-12 season. They were ranked No. 8 three times in 2008-09, once in 2006-07 and twice in 2002-03.

The last time MU was ranked higher than eighth was the 1977-78 season in which they were inside the top 5 until the final poll, when the then-Warriors were No. 8.

MU's biggest game last week came on Tuesday against Creighton in Omaha, with the Golden Eagles rallying from a eight-point deficit at halftime.

Then on Saturday, in front of the largest crowd for a basketball game at Fiserv Forum, MU beat DePaul, 90-84.

The Golden Eagles need one victory to claim the outright Big East title. They play at Butler on Tuesday night and then finish the regular season at home against St. John's on Saturday.

MU has beaten both teams this season.

If MU is the outright champion of the regular season, then it will be the No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City. That would mean the Golden Eagles will play against the winner of the No. 8/9 matchup at 11 a.m. Central on March 9.

Should the Golden Eagles share the regular-season title, there are many tiebreaking scenarios for seeding in the conference tournament.

Kolek named Big East player of the week

In other honors, MU point guard Tyler Kolek was named Big East player of the week after averaging 20 points, 10 assists and 2.5 steals in the two victories.

Kolek, a candidate for conference player of the year, hit two clutch baskets in the final minute against Creighton and then scored 15 of MU's last 16 points to hold off DePaul.

It is the second time Kolek has won the award this season.

MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL Marquette head coach Shaka Smart saw his Golden Eagles beat Creighton on Tuesday and DePaul on Saturday, victories that vaulted the team to No. 6 in The Associated Press rankings.