No. 18 Marquette, with tournament aspirations, opens vs. Stony Brook

(Photo credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Coach Shaka Smart said he is excited about his new-look yet veteran-savvy Marquette team ahead of the No. 18 Golden Eagles' season opener Monday against Stony Brook in Milwaukee.

"A big part of that (transition) is getting our guys better," Smart said at Big East media day last week. "Taking guysthat played support roles around Tyler Kolek and