Helena Frye
The Philadelphia Big 5, also known as the Big 5, is an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a group of NCAA Division I basketball schools who compete for the city's collegiate championship. The Big 5 was formed in 1955 and originally consisted of five schools: Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. In 2023, Drexel was added to the group, bringing the total number of schools to six. The Big 5 is known for its unique format and rich tradition in college basketball. However, in recent years, there have been discussions about declining attendance and interest, with traditionalists calling for a change to revive the series. The addition of Drexel and a new format for the men's competition are some of the innovations implemented to bring back the buzz and excitement associated with the Big 5.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding year | 1955 |
| Original members | Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova |
| Current members | Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Competition format | Two three-team pods culminating in a triple-header showcase event |
| Trophy | Robert V. Geasey Trophy |
| Creed | "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia." |
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What You'll Learn
Drexel joins the Big 5
Drexel University has been welcomed into the Philadelphia Big 5, marking a historic moment for the university and basketball fans in Philadelphia. The Big 5, an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has long been a staple of the city's basketball history. Drexel's inclusion in the Big 5 is a testament to the university's athletic achievements and a sign of the programme's rising success.
Traditionally, the Big 5 consisted of Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova, with each school boasting a strong basketball heritage. However, in recent years, the Big 5 had been waning in popularity. Attendance and interest declined, and the tournament was in need of revitalisation. The addition of Drexel to the Big 5 is part of an effort to bring new life and evolution to the tournament.
Drexel's athletic program has been on an upward trajectory, with the men's basketball team, the Dragons, improving their record every year under coach Zach Spiker. In the 2023-24 season, Drexel made its debut in the Big 5, marking the first time in 68 years that a new team had been added to the tournament. The new format of the Big 5 includes two pods of three teams each, with Drexel joining La Salle and Temple in Pod 1, while Villanova, St. Joseph's, and Penn make up Pod 2.
The inclusion of Drexel in the Big 5 is significant not only for the university but also for the city of Philadelphia. The Big 5 is deeply intertwined with the city's basketball culture and history. By joining the ranks of the city's top basketball programmes, Drexel is now part of a tradition that has fostered some of the nation's oldest and most successful men's basketball teams. The university's athletic director, Maisha Kelly, expressed her pride in Drexel becoming a part of this storied organisation and the impact it will have on the university's athletic programme.
The expansion of the Big 5 and the introduction of a new format aim to revitalise the tournament and bring back the excitement and rivalry that once defined it. With Drexel's addition, the Big 5 enters a new era, and the university is poised to make its mark on Philadelphia's basketball landscape.
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The Big 5's history
The Big 5, or the Philadelphia Big 5, is an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Big 5 was formed in 1955, a year after La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. The original members of the Big 5 were Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. These colleges came together in a basketball round-robin format.
The Big 5 showcased Philadelphia's basketball talent and helped pay for the upkeep of the Palestra, located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus. All schools agreed to split ticket and concessions revenues equally once Penn was paid for upkeep costs. The arrangement promoted already intense intra-city collegiate basketball rivalries, with the games being packed with fans. From 1955–56 to 1990–91, and again from 1999–00 to 2022–23, all Big 5 men's basketball teams played each other once per season for a total of four games per team.
However, as college hoops evolved, the Big 5 started to lose its popularity. Attendance and interest waned, and teams outside of the Main Line saw their programs sink. In January 2023, the Big 5 announced a new format for the men's competition, which included the addition of Drexel as a member. The new format replaced the round-robin format with two three-team pods that culminated in a Big 5 Classic triple-header at the Wells Fargo Center. The women's teams followed the same format, with the games taking place at Villanova University's Finneran Pavilion.
The Big 5 creed reads: "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia."
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Changes to the Big 5 format
The Big 5 is an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a group of NCAA Division I basketball schools that compete for the city's collegiate championship. The Big 5 originally consisted of Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. At the start of the 2023-24 season, Drexel was added to the Big 5, bringing the total number of teams to six.
From its founding in 1955 until 2023, the five teams played each other once in a round-robin format to determine the Big 5 champion. However, in recent years, the Big 5 has seen a decline in attendance and interest, with traditionalists lamenting the loss of the old format. In response to this, the athletic directors of the six schools implemented several changes for the 2023-24 season.
The new format replaced the round-robin structure with two three-team pods that compete in November. The first Saturday in December then features the "Big 5 Classic", a triple-header showcase event held at the Wells Fargo Center, with a fifth-place, third-place, and championship game. This new format is designed to build buzz for ticket sales, marketing, sponsorships, and promotion.
The addition of Drexel to the Big 5 has brought new excitement to the tournament, particularly for the Drexel women's team, which had success in the NCAA tournament last season. The inclusion of Drexel also adds a new dimension to the competition, as it is the only public university in the group, with three of the other five schools being affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
The changes to the Big 5 format have been well-received, with many believing that they have helped to revive the tournament and bring it back to life in a new and exciting way. The future of the Big 5 looks bright, with the tournament now offering a unique and modern take on the traditional round-robin format.
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The Big 5's future
The Big 5, or the Philadelphia Big 5, is an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1955, a year after La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. The Big 5 originally consisted of five teams: Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. These teams played each other once in a round-robin format to determine the Big 5 champion. The Big 5 helped showcase Philadelphia's basketball talent and also helped pay for the upkeep of the Palestra, a basketball arena located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus.
However, as college basketball evolved, the Big 5 started to lose its appeal. Attendance and interest waned, and the programs of teams outside the Main Line began to sink. In January 2023, the Big 5 announced a new format for the men's competition, which included the addition of Drexel as a sixth member. The new format replaced the round-robin structure with two three-team pods that culminated in a Big 5 Classic triple-header at the Wells Fargo Center. This change was an attempt to resuscitate the Big 5 and bring excitement to the student body and the program.
The future of the Big 5 looks promising with the inclusion of Drexel and the new format. The men's Classic will be staying at the WFC for the next three seasons, which will help build buzz for ticket sales, marketing, sponsorships, and promotion. The Big 5 continues to be deeply unique to the city of Philadelphia and is an important part of college basketball tradition. The new format gives the Big 5 important staying power at a time when college basketball and college sports, in general, are in flux.
Moving forward, the Big 5 will continue to showcase the talent of Philadelphia's college basketball players and foster intense intra-city collegiate basketball rivalries. The addition of Drexel brings a fresh dynamic to the competition, and the support of venues like the WFC ensures that the Big 5 will remain an exciting and prominent feature of Philadelphia's sports landscape.
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The Big 5's impact on college basketball
The Big 5, also known as the Philadelphia Big 5, is an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1955, a year after La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. The Big 5 originally consisted of Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. Three of these six schools (La Salle, Saint Joseph's and Villanova) are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, while Temple is the only public university in the group. The Big 5 showcases Philadelphia's basketball talent and helped pay for the upkeep of the Palestra, located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus.
Over the years, the Big 5 became one of the best traditions in college basketball. However, as college basketball evolved, the Big 5 began to lose its appeal, with declining attendance and interest. In 2022, a sparsely attended Big 5 doubleheader at the Palestra led to discussions among administrators about finding a way to "resuscitate" the Big 5. The addition of Drexel University to the series was one of the changes implemented for the 2023-24 season, along with replacing the round-robin format with two three-team pods that culminated in the Big 5 Classic triple-header at the Wells Fargo Center.
The inclusion of Drexel, the lone school in Philadelphia to make the NCAA tournament last season, has brought excitement to the student body and the program. The new format has also helped build buzz for ticket sales, marketing, sponsorships, and promotion. The Big 5 Classic will be held at the Wells Fargo Center for the next three seasons, as the venue will be hosting the 2026 first and second rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The Big 5 has a rich history in college basketball, with three of the six teams (Temple, Villanova, and Penn) ranking in the top 50 for all-time Division I basketball victories. From 1977 to 2022, at least one team from the Big 5 appeared in the men's NCAA Tournament. Both Villanova's men's and women's basketball teams hold the most Big 5 titles, with 29 and 21 titles, respectively. The Big 5 creed captures the spirit of the competition: "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia."
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