Wednesday marks a very tragic day in college basketball.
It will be the first day of this year’s Big East tournament, but to everyone who watches, it will not be the Big East tournament.
Last off-season, the Big East as we knew it imploded as teams fled to difference conferences. What remained was the basketball-only Big East, sometimes referred to as the Catholic 10.
These teams include: Seton Hall, Butler, Georgetown, DePaul, Villanova, Providence, St. Johns, Creighton, Xavier and Marquette.
Does this seem strange?
Where’s Louisville? Or Syracuse? Or UConn? Or any of the other teams that made the Big East Basketball Tournament one of the best events in sports?
The Big East’s demise began when West Virginia bolted to the Big 12 a few years ago, but it crumbled when Syracuse and Pittsburgh joined the ACC. Seeing the writing on the wall, Rutgers joined the Big 10.
After that, the conference dissolved, the remaining Catholic schools retained nothing but a hollow shell—the Big East name.
The first thing I’ll miss about the Big East tournament is the 16-team megabracket where the top four seeds got two byes.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday would be wall-to-wall, four-game slates with the semifinals on Friday and the final Saturday night.
Even though the venue is the same for the new Big East, it doesn’t feel the same.
Madison Square Garden is the best venue in the world to watch a basketball game. Cresting out of the subway station on the blue line at 34th and 7th is an experience and was the perfect complement to the most exciting conference tournament.
MSG brought the energy that made the Big East tournament the spectacle it was. The great games were only amplified by the ruckus New York crowd.
There were so many astounding moments over the course of the Big East tournament.
How about in 2010 when Da’Sean Butler hit back to back game winners in the semifinals and then in the finals to win West Virginia’s first title?
How about 2011 when Kemba Walker led UConn on a four-day tear all over the hardwood at MSG? The success there carried the Huskies all the way to the national title. Walker also gave us the greatest step-back crossover of all time.
How about 2006 when Gerry McNamara led the No. 9 seed Syracuse to a Big East title. The guy couldn’t miss all week. His buzzer beater highlight reel is still a joy to watch.
How about 1996? A bit of a throwback sure, but can I interest you in a college hoops showdown between Ray Allen and Allen Iverson? The Big East Tournament has been home to many great NBA players including Carmelo Anthony, Roy Hibbert and Richard “Rip” Hamilton.
Finally, who can forget the six-overtime thriller between UConn and Syracuse in 2009? That game had everything and it wasn’t even a final. It wasn’t even a semifinal. The best part about the Big East tournament was that any game had the chance to be something special.
It’s very sad that a great event like this had to die because college athletic directors have to try and squeeze every last dime out of everything. The only reason Syracuse and Pitt joined the ACC was to better their football program.
Yes, when football makes money, the whole athletic department makes money, but Syracuse Hoops was not having any problems bringing money to the school.
Greed in college athletics needs to be toned down. Too many good things have been left in the dust thanks to conference realignment.
What was your favorite memory from the Big East tournament? Email gsatterfield@wisc.edu and let him know what you think.
