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PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Marquette didn't look like the sixth-ranked men's basketball team in the country on Tuesday.
The Golden Eagles were overwhelmed and out of form in their 72-57 loss to Providence in their team's Big East opener.
BOX score: Providence 72, Marquette 57
The Friars' home arena, once known as the Dunkin' Donuts Center and now Amica Mutual Pavilion, has become a house of horrors for the Golden Eagles. MU hasn't won in the building since February 2019 and has lost five straight games.
Shaka Smart's first two visits to Providence with MU ended excitingly. This only left the reigning Big East champions gnashing their teeth.
“A lot of physicality,” Smart said. “I think you will experience that in this league and you have to be prepared for it.”
“We had a lot of guys out there playing against their physical ability in this league. Even in this building. But for whatever reason, this put us on our heels. I think it was like hoping for more calls.”
“I told the officials we need to figure out how to approach a game in the second half the same way we approach it in the first half and vice versa. But it's hard, these games are hard to referee. Besides, we have to play. It's better if we want to have a chance of winning, so it's not about officiating.”
The Friars (10-2) took a 16-14 lead on Ticket Gaines' three-pointer and then extended the lead to 40-29 at halftime. Providence's largest lead was 60-41 with 9:45 left.
The Golden Eagles shot 18 for 56, including 4 of 20 on three-pointers. The normally free-flowing offense only had seven assists and 14 turnovers.
“I think they were really physical,” Kolek said. “But we just have to figure some things out on our own offensively.
“It's not so much what other people do, but what we do. Getting the ball into the hands of the right people and making the right plays and spacing in the right way. I think that might have been the lowest score we've had since I've been here.
“I know it’s probably the ugliest offensive game we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
MU has had two lower-scoring performances in the last three seasons: a 58-55 loss to Mississippi State last season and a 67-56 loss to UCLA in the 2021-22 season.
Kolek, looking for a win in what could be his final college game in his home state, posted 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The Cumberland, Rhode Island, native became the target of a raucous crowd.
Kolek scored the first seven points of the second half to bring MU within 40-36, but that couldn't be sustained.
“I thought that was the best we played at the start of the half,” Smart said. “We had a lot of the second half where we defended pretty well.
“We got some stops, but then on offense we either got rushed, sped up, turned the ball over or missed a good shot.”
Stevie Mitchell missed the third game in a row with a hamstring injury
Stevie Mitchell, MU's starting player, was sidelined for the third straight game with a hamstring injury.
The 6-foot-2 Mitchell averages just 5.8 points per game but is the team's glue.
“He’s our toughest guy,” Smart said. “He just can’t leave at the moment. That’s not one of those things he can overcome.”
“Anytime you have a soft tissue injury, you just have to let it heal. We really wanted him to play in this game because we knew he could be impactful. We miss his toughness, we miss his energy. Stevie is a winner. He is the type of man who influences victory in many ways beyond the statistics.”
Sophomore guard Chase Ross has taken Mitchell's spot in the starting lineup. Ross had an injury scare of his own with 35 seconds left in the first half when he fell awkwardly on his right leg while attempting a layup.
Ross was helped back to the locker room. He worked with coach Brandon Yoder at halftime and was back in the lineup for the second half. He scored one point on 0-for-7 shooting and limped after the game.
“Stevie Mitchell is a really big loss because he’s making room for us,” Kolek said. “He cuts really well, he moves really well without the ball.”
“He does not want it. He doesn't need it. So that takes away another element of our offense.”
MU's bench players scored just six points on 2-for-8 shooting, but there were plenty of problems for MU.
Kam Jones scored all 13 points in the first half. Oso Ighodaro and David Joplin both finished 2 for 6. The Golden Eagles defense released Gaines and Devin Carter (22 points) for 5 three-pointers.
“I want to see more of our entire team than I did tonight,” Smart said. “Absolutely, including the bank.”