It hadn't yet hit the Bradley Center crowd.

During Saturday's intermission, Marquette held a 37-28 lead over Providence and looked certain to close out the Big East regular season with a 10-6 record. With a little help, the Golden Eagles would clinch a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Fans were dreaming of March instead of noticing that senior Steve Novak had made just 1-of-3 shots in the first half in his final home game in a Marquette uniform. The finality, the sense of closure was lost on most, including Novak himself.

"I don't think it's really hit me yet," Novak said after the game. "I have a couple months of school left and more basketball to play. It was definitely emotional, but I tried to stay manly out there."

The program's all-time leader in three-pointers made went to the Final Four as a freshman along with Joe Chapman and Chris Grimm. Disappointing trips to the NIT in the last two seasons, which threatened to sour the seniors' legacies, has made the team's resurgence in its first year in the Big East all the more special.

So forgive Novak for having to restrain his emotions, or for not being all that worried after his scant three points in the first 20 minutes. The team didn't need his usual heroics.

"I was really just focused on winning the game," Novak said. "At halftime I knew we could play better. (Providence's) defense relaxed a little bit and we got things going."

Novak treated the crowd to a more customary shooting display in the second half, when he scored 17 of his team-high 20 points and hit 5-of-6 three-pointers to help the Golden Eagles pull away. Freshman Dominic James attributed Novak's increased production in the second half to the game's faster pace.

"We were looking to push the ball a lot more and find him in transition," James said.

Novak's final three-pointer of the game — assisted by Chapman on a fast break — capped an 8-0 Marquette run late in the second half.

As head coach Tom Crean has insisted throughout the year, however, Novak may very well be making threes at the Bradley Center as a future pro.

"He's leaving as one of the best players that ever played here," Crean said.

His feats this year include his 41-point, 16-rebound performance against Connecticut, his game-winning shot against Notre Dame and his 27 points in the crucial win over Pittsburgh. All occurred at the Bradley Center, where he spoiled the home fans by averaging 23.3 points and making 39-of-73 (53.4 percent) three-pointers in eight Big East home games.

Novak has struggled recently away from the Bradley Center, however, making just 34.9 percent of three-pointers in Marquette's last four road games.

Marquette's post-season plans include the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden and one of eight possible NCAA tournament first round sites, where Novak hopes that his next moments of closure will be put off a little while longer.