Kristian Ferrell
The Big East Conference and the Big Ten Conference are two of the most prominent collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Both conferences have a long history, with the Big East founded in 1979 and the Big Ten being one of the nation's oldest, predating the NCAA by a decade. While the conferences share similarities, they also have distinct characteristics. The Big East has been known for its strong basketball focus, with 16 schools and a large fan base, while the Big Ten, with 11 members, is recognised for its defensive prowess and has expanded its media presence in recent years. The debate about which conference is superior has sparked passionate discussions among college basketball enthusiasts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of schools | Big East: 16 |
| Big Ten: 11 | |
| Number of fans | More in Big East |
| Public opinion | 48% of Americans believe Big East is the best conference in the nation; 20% believe it's Big Ten |
| History | Both conferences share 1979 as their founding date |
| Location | Big East: Northeast and Midwest metropolitan areas |
| Big Ten: Chicago area in Rosemont, Illinois | |
| Sports | Big East: 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports |
| Big Ten: Men's basketball, football | |
| Focus | Big East: Basketball-focused |
| Big Ten: Known for defense | |
| Notable schools | Big East: DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, University of Connecticut (UConn) |
| Big Ten: Northwestern, Purdue |
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What You'll Learn
Big East Conference history
The Big East Conference, often referred to as the Classic Big East, is a collegiate athletic conference competing in NCAA Division I sports. It was founded in 1979 by Providence College basketball coach Dave Gavitt, who wanted to create an east coast basketball-centric collegiate athletic conference. The original core of the Big East consisted of Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, and Syracuse, who invited Seton Hall, Connecticut (UConn), Holy Cross, Rutgers, and Boston College (BC) to join.
The Big East Conference was highly successful in basketball throughout its history, with its men's and women's teams achieving notable victories. In men's basketball, Big East teams made 18 Final Four appearances and won 7 NCAA championships through 2013. UConn won three of these championships, with Georgetown, Syracuse, Louisville, and Villanova each winning one. In the 1985 NCAA Championship, Villanova defeated Georgetown 66-64, with forward Ed Pinckney named the Most Outstanding Player. In women's basketball, Connecticut set the record for the longest winning streak in NCAA history with 70 consecutive wins from 2001 to 2003.
In addition to basketball, the Big East Conference also competed in other sports, including men's and women's cross country, field hockey, and lacrosse. The conference crowned its first men's and women's cross country champions in 1979 and 1982, respectively. Villanova's women's cross country team dominated the Big East, winning multiple conference titles and two NCAA Cross Country Team Championships in 2009 and 2010.
The Big East Conference underwent a significant realignment in 2005 and the early 2010s, with many member schools departing and joining other conferences. In 2012, the Big East's seven non-FBS schools, known as the "Catholic 7," voted to separate from the football-playing schools, leading to a split in 2013. The Catholic 7 formed a new non-football playing conference that purchased the Big East Conference name, logos, and basketball records. The remaining football-playing members joined with other schools to become the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the legal successor to the original Big East. Despite the changes, the new Big East Conference retained its founding date of 1979 and the same history through 2013.
The Big East Conference has been widely considered one of the top collegiate athletic conferences, with its members winning NCAA national championships in various sports. The conference has been praised for its strong basketball tradition, with the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament considered the most prestigious in NCAA Division I. The tournament has been played at Madison Square Garden since 1983, the longest run at a single site in college basketball.
When comparing the Big East Conference to other conferences, such as the Big Ten, opinions vary among fans and commentators. Some believe the Big East is the strongest conference due to its success in basketball and larger number of schools and fans. However, others argue that the Big Ten is superior, especially when it comes to defensive strategies and preventing high-scoring games.
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Big Ten Conference history
The Big Ten Conference and the Big East Conference are two different collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. The Big Ten Conference is older and was founded in 1896 as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives. It is the oldest NCAA Division I conference in the country and is based in the Chicago area in Rosemont, Illinois. The conference was founded by the Universities of Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Purdue and Northwestern universities. Iowa and Indiana universities joined in 1899, and Ohio State in 1912. The first references to the conference as the Big Ten were in 1916 when Michigan rejoined after a nine-year absence.
The Big Ten has traditionally been one of the strongest football conferences in the country. It has a longstanding history with independent Notre Dame, and Penn State has a rivalry with Pittsburgh of the ACC. The conference's official name remained the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives until 1987 when it was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation and formally adopted the name Big Ten. In 1990, the conference expanded to 11 teams with the addition of Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Nebraska became the 12th member in 2011. The conference expanded to 14 schools in 2014 and then to 18 members in 2024, gaining a presence on the West Coast with the addition of four former Pac-12 schools.
The Big East Conference, on the other hand, is a collegiate athletic conference that competes in NCAA Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. It is headquartered in New York City and was formed in 2013 after the "'Catholic Seven' members of the original Big East Conference, founded in 1979, split from the football-playing schools to start a new conference focused on basketball. The original Big East Conference was founded by Providence College basketball coach Dave Gavitt, who assembled an east coast basketball-centric conference. The "Catholic Seven" members are DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova. The Big East has been widely considered one of the "Power 5" basketball conferences, and the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is considered the most prestigious conference tournament in NCAA Division I.
Both conferences have their supporters in the debate over which is the best conference in basketball. According to an ESPN.com poll, 48% of Americans believe the Big East is the elite conference, while only 20% believe it is the Big Ten. However, some argue that the Big Ten is the better conference due to its strong defense and the fact that it is more complete, while the Big East may have more powerhouses but lacks key victories outside of its top schools.
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Big East vs Big Ten: Tournament results
The Big East Conference and the Big Ten Conference are two of the most prominent collegiate athletic conferences in the US. Both conferences have a rich history of producing successful basketball teams and have been the topic of much debate among fans and pundits alike.
The Big East Conference, founded in 1979, is headquartered in New York City and comprises 11 full-member schools primarily located in the Northeast and Midwest metropolitan areas. It competes in NCAA Division I across 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. The Big East has been widely considered one of the "Power 5" basketball conferences, and its men's basketball tournament, held at Madison Square Garden since 1983, is regarded by some as the most prestigious in NCAA Division I. The conference has produced national champions, including Villanova, who won the 1985 NCAA Tournament and the conference's first championship since realignment in 2016.
On the other hand, the Big Ten Conference has 11 member institutions and is known for its defensive prowess in basketball. While it may not have as many powerhouse teams as the Big East, the Big Ten is respected for its well-roundedness and strong defensive capabilities. The conference has a passionate fan base and has produced notable basketball programs over the years.
When it comes to tournament results, both conferences have had their fair share of successes. The Big East Conference's high point is often considered to be the 1985 NCAA Tournament, where three of its teams—Georgetown, St. John's, and Villanova—made it to the Final Four, with Villanova ultimately claiming the national championship. More recently, in the 2016–17 season, seven of the ten schools received bids to the NCAA Tournament, showcasing the depth of talent within the conference.
The Big Ten Conference, despite having fewer schools, consistently fields competitive teams in the NCAA Tournament. In any given year, the conference may have around half of its teams qualify for the tournament. While the Big Ten may not always garner the same level of hype as the Big East, it has produced strong results. For example, in 2020, Northwestern from the Big Ten Conference had a notable win over Purdue and was considered a sleeper team in the Big Ten tournament.
The debate between the two conferences often revolves around the quality of play and the strength of the teams. The Big East has historically been known for its high-scoring games, sometimes reaching NBA-level scores, while the Big Ten is recognized for its stout defense, preventing high-scoring affairs. The Big East has more fans and a larger number of schools, which can influence polls and public perception. However, the Big Ten's defensive mindset and overall competitiveness cannot be overlooked.
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Big East vs Big Ten: Number of schools
The Big East Conference and the Big Ten Conference are two different college athletic conferences. The Big East Conference is made up of 11 colleges in the Midwest and along the East Coast. The conference was formed in 1979 and has always primarily focused on basketball, although it has achieved success in other sports. The 11 colleges are:
- Butler University
- Creighton University
- DePaul University
- Georgetown University
- Marquette University
- Providence College
- St. John's University
- Seton Hall University
- University of Connecticut (UConn)
- Villanova University
- Xavier University
The University of Connecticut rejoined the Big East Conference in 2020 after withdrawing in 2013. The conference also includes football-only members, which has caused instability in the past.
The Big Ten Conference, on the other hand, currently consists of 18 schools, although the number of teams has varied over the years. The original seven members were:
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Indiana University
- Iowa University
- Michigan University
- Ohio State University
- Purdue University
In 1946, the University of Chicago withdrew from the conference, and in 1949, Michigan State University joined, bringing the number of members back up to seven. In 1990, Pennsylvania State University became the eleventh member. The conference has continued to expand since then, with the University of Oregon joining as recently as 2024.
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Big East vs Big Ten: Public perception
The Big East Conference and the Big Ten Conference are two of the most prominent collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. The Big East, founded in 1979, is a basketball-focused conference with 11 full-member schools primarily located in the Northeast and Midwest metropolitan areas. On the other hand, the Big Ten, founded in 1896, is the oldest NCAA Division I conference and comprises prominent universities primarily located in the Midwest and, more recently, the East Coast.
Public perception of the two conferences has varied over the years, with both conferences being regarded as powerhouses in college basketball. In terms of public perception, the Big East has often been considered a stronger conference than the Big Ten. According to an ESPN.com poll, 48 percent of Americans believe that the Big East is the elite conference in the nation, compared to only 20 percent for the Big Ten. The Big East has more schools and a larger fan base, which likely contributes to its higher public perception. However, some have argued that the poll results may be skewed due to the larger number of schools and fans in the Big East.
The Big East has a reputation for having more powerhouse teams and higher scores, sometimes comparable to NBA games. The conference is considered one of the "`Power 5`" basketball conferences, and its men's basketball tournament is played at Madison Square Garden, adding to its prestige. The Big East has produced multiple top-ranked teams and national champions over the years.
On the other hand, the Big Ten is known for its strong defence and has been called weak by some due to its lack of offensive finesse. However, others argue that the Big Ten is a more complete conference, with a more balanced mix of strong teams. The Big Ten has produced its fair share of top-ranked teams and national champions as well.
In terms of head-to-head competition, the results have been mixed. In the 2012-2013 academic year, the Big Ten had more wins against the Big East, with Purdue, Wisconsin, Indiana, Northwestern, and Michigan all defeating their Big East opponents. However, the Big East also had notable wins, with West Virginia beating Ohio State and Marquette defeating Michigan. Overall, the public perception of the two conferences has fluctuated, with both conferences having their strengths and weaknesses, and fans and experts often debating the relative strengths of each conference.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G) is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States. It was founded in 1896 and is the oldest NCAA Division I conference in the country. It is based in the Chicago area in Rosemont, Illinois.
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that competes in NCAA Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. It was formed in 1979 by college basketball coach Dave Gavitt with the primary focus of the Conference being basketball.
No, the Big Ten and Big East are not the same. While both are collegiate athletic conferences, they differ in their focus sports, member institutions, and geographic locations. The Big Ten Conference is older and has a stronger focus on football, while the Big East Conference is more basketball-centric and includes more women's sports.
