The eighth-ranked Marquette men's basketball team wants senior point guard Tyler Kolek to be healthy in the postseason.

The school announced on Monday that Kolek, who missed MU's loss to No. 10 Creighton on Saturday with an oblique injury, will sit out the Golden Eagles' final two regular-season games this week.

He will be evaluated again before the Big East tournament next week in New York.

"We’re going to be very aggressive in helping him move forward and get ready to go," MU head coach Shaka Smart said after MU's loss to Creighton. "At the same time, he’ll play when he’s ready to play.”

Tyler Kolek is likely an All-American this season

Kolek suffered the oblique injury making a pass in MU's victory over Providence last week. He did not make the trip to Omaha, Nebraska, for the Golden Eagles' matchup with Creighton. MU starting center Oso Ighodaro also sat out that game with an illness.

Kolek is one of the most valuable players in college basketball. He is averaging 15 points per game and leads the nation in assists per game at 7.6. Kolek is the reigning Big East player of the year, and will likely be a first- or second-team All-American this season.

The Golden Eagles' home finale is Wednesday against second-ranked Connecticut, which clinched the Big East regular-season championship with MU's loss to Creighton.

MU will honor Kolek and Ighodaro on Senior Night, though both players have fifth years of eligibility that the NCAA gave to athletes in the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season. Ighodaro has stated that he is unlikely to use the extra season, while Kolek has said he will decide after the season. Both players are seen as potential NBA draft picks.

The Golden Eagles finish the regular season at Xavier on Saturday in Cincinnati.

Tyler Kolek also suffered an injury last March

MU's seeding in the Big East tournament is not set, but the Golden Eagles have clinched a bye in the first round and will play in the quarterfinals on March 14.

Kolek has suffered bad-timing with injuries at MU. Last season, he hurt his right thumb in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 against Vermont. Kolek played in the second round with a brace on his hand, but he struggled in a loss to Michigan State.

The injury will also likely keep Kolek from challenging Tony Miller's program record for assists in a season with 274. Kolek has 214 this season after handing out 270 last season. Kolek broke Miller's single-game MU record with 18 assists against DePaul on Feb. 21.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tyler Kolek will miss Marquette's final two regular-season games with oblique injury