Marquette coach Shaka Smart gets emotional after team edges out Colorado to reach Sweet 16

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The Marquette Golden Eagles are heading to the Sweet 16 after a tough battle with the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 81-77 victory was no easy get, even with Marquette owning an 11-point lead at halftime. It came down to key plays in crunch time, and veteran guard Tyler Kolek hitting some clutch baskets to preserve Marquette’s lead to eventually hear the final buzzer sound in their favor. 

After the game, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart spoke with CBS’ Andy Katz, and he couldn’t contain his emotion as Katz noticed that he was getting choked up. 

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Shaka Smart, the head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles, gives a hug to Tyler Kolek, #11, in the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - First Round - Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

"Just gratitude. Gratitude for these guys, our fans, our guys hanging in there continuing to fight, and now we get to keep playing," Smart said as he tried holding back tears. 

Smart’s emotion is what makes him such a great coach, no matter whether it was with VCU during their Final Four run in 2011 or him wearing his heart on his sleeve in defeat with the University of Texas – a team he never won an NCAA Tournament game with. 

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In his third season with Marquette, Smart is finally back in the Sweet 16 after not winning a tournament game in his first season and not making it out of the second round last