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Marquette began its summer cookout for fans and alumni with Buzz Williams, and the tradition continued Tuesday night with new coach Steve Wojciechowski.

What was noticable was the number of former players at the event. More than 60 made the scene. Since arriving on April 1, Wojo has embraced the Marquette tradition. Part of that is involving former players.

For example, Wojo recently hired former star Travis Diener as director of basketball operations. During his first week on the job, Wojo reached out to Diener and told him there would be a place for him at Marquette when his playing career ended.

It just so happened that Diener was ready to retire. He left the Italian League to come home and be a part of the new era with Wojo.

"I know Buzz started this, but I think there’s more former players who have come back today than in any other year," Diener said. "Coach has extended them the opportunity to come to games as our guest. Establishing a relationship with the guys who played here is very important. For myself, I know what came before me when I got here. It’s all a process. There were players before you who created this great university. I think Coach Wojo is doing a great job with that."

Wojo met with the former players and posed for a group picture Tuesday afternoon.

"It shows Wojo has already created a big connection with the past players," said former star Steve Novak, now with the Toronto Raptors. "That’s something that’s very important to the guys who no longer put on the uniform but love to come back and cheer these teams on. It’s nice to see so many people made the trip back. Some of them came a long way to be here."

Novak said Wojo reached out to him his first week on the job.

"To me he’s been humble about going about things," Novak said. "He’s really reseached and studied the Marquette program and he continues to reach out to people to understand what Marquette is all about. I don’t think he would have taken the job unless he had a pretty good idea of what Marquette is. He continues to get to know the people here. I’ve been very impressed with him."