The Big East Basketball Tournament is an annual men’s college basketball tournament that is held at the end of the regular season for teams in the Big East Conference. The tournament is typically held over several days in early March and features all ten teams in the conference.
The tournament is a single-elimination format, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament is held at a different venue each year, with Madison Square Garden in New York City being a frequent host site.
The first Big East Basketball Tournament was held in 1980, and it has since become one of the most prestigious conference tournaments in college basketball. Some of the most memorable moments in college basketball history have taken place at the Big East Tournament, including buzzer-beaters, upsets, and dramatic championship games.
The Big East Conference has had several upsets and surprises in its basketball tournament history, with underdogs knocking off top seeds and unexpected teams making deep runs. One of the most notable underdog stories in Big East Tournament history occurred in 2011, when the University of Connecticut Huskies won five games in five days to capture the championship. The Huskies were the ninth seed in the tournament and had to defeat three higher-seeded teams just to reach the championship game, where they upset the eighth-ranked Louisville Cardinals.
UConn’s run to the title was surprising not only because of their low seed but also because they had struggled in the regular season, finishing with a record of just 9-9 in Big East play. However, they caught fire in the tournament and rode the hot hand of guard Kemba Walker to an improbable championship.
The Big East Conference has produced many talented basketball players who have gone on to successful careers in the NBA. Some of the most notable NBA players to have played in the Big East Tournament include:
Patrick Ewing – Ewing was a dominant force in the Big East during his college career at Georgetown, leading the Hoyas to three Big East Tournament titles and the 1984 NCAA championship. He went on to become a 11-time NBA All-Star and one of the greatest centers in league history.
Ray Allen – Allen played for the Connecticut Huskies in the mid-1990s, helping them win the 1996 Big East Tournament and reach the NCAA Elite Eight. He went on to become one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, winning two championships with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
Carmelo Anthony – Anthony led Syracuse to the 2006 Big East Tournament championship and the NCAA title that same year. He went on to become a 10-time NBA All-Star and one of the most prolific scorers in league history.
Allen Iverson – Iverson played for the Georgetown Hoyas in the mid-1990s, leading them to the 1996 Big East Tournament championship and the NCAA Elite Eight. He went on to become an 11-time NBA All-Star and one of the most electrifying players in league history.
Chris Mullin – Mullin played for St. John’s in the 1980s, winning the 1983 Big East Tournament and leading the Red Storm to the NCAA Final Four in 1985. He went on to become a five-time NBA All-Star and one of the greatest shooters of his era.
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