Kristian Ferrell
Philadelphia University, now known as Thomas Jefferson University, is part of the NCAA Division II and competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Their nickname is the Rams and their colours are dark and light blue. Philadelphia is also home to the Philadelphia Big 5, an association of six college athletic programs that compete in NCAA Division I basketball. The original five teams were Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova, with Drexel added ahead of the 2023-24 season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Division | I |
| Number of Teams | 6 |
| Teams | Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, Villanova |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Affiliation | 3 teams are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church; Temple is the only public university |
| Top-50 for All-Time Division I Basketball Victories | Temple (7th), Villanova (19th), Penn (22nd) |
| Number of Titles | Villanova men's team (29), Villanova women's team (21) |
| Trophy | Robert V. Geasey Trophy |
| Creed | "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia." |
| Year Formed | 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
Philadelphia Big 5
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 that compete for the city's collegiate championship. The Big 5 was formed in 1955, a year after La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. The original members were Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. Drexel University was added to the Big 5 for the 2023-24 season.
Three of the 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. Villanova University, where the games are played, is located in a nearby Main Line suburb of Philadelphia. The Big 5 showcases Philadelphia's basketball talent and helps pay for the upkeep of the Palestra, located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, where the games historically took place.
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. Since 1956, there have been three instances of a five-way tie among all member schools, which occurred in 1980-81, 1991-92, and 1997-98. However, in the latter two cases, not every team played all four other teams. In 1979, a women's version of the competition began, following the same round-robin format as the men's.
The Big 5 creed reads: "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia." Villanova's men's and women's basketball teams hold the most Big 5 titles, with 29 and 21 titles, respectively. Each year, the Herb Good Basketball Club selects All-Big 5 teams, as well as a coach of the year. The most outstanding player in Big 5 competition receives the Robert V. Geasey Trophy.
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NCAA Division I
The Philadelphia 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 original members of the Big 5 were Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, Drexel was added as the sixth member. Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, and Temple are based in Philadelphia, while Villanova is located in a nearby Main Line suburb of the same name.
Three of the 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 was formed in 1955, a year after La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. The group showcased Philadelphia's basketball talent and helped fund the upkeep of the Palestra, located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, where the games were historically played.
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. Since 1956, there have been three instances of a five-way tie among all member schools: 1980-81 (2-2 records), 1991-92 (1-1 records), and 1997-98 (1-1 records). However, the latter two cases occurred during a period when there was no full round-robin series, so not every team played all the other teams. All games are played at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, except for the women's event, which is held at the Finneran Pavilion on the campus of Villanova University.
The Big 5 creed reflects the pride and competitiveness of Philadelphia's basketball culture: "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia." Villanova's men's and women's basketball teams hold the most Big 5 titles, with 29 and 21 titles, respectively. Each year, the Herb Good Basketball Club selects All-Big 5 teams and a coach of the year, while the most outstanding player in Big 5 competition receives the Robert V. Geasey Trophy.
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Drexel University
The Dragons play their home games at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center, also known as the DAC. The DAC includes a swimming pool, five squash courts, a golf center, and a gymnasium. Drexel also has outdoor facilities, including two beach volleyball courts, two tennis courts, and a soccer field.
The University offers a wide range of athletic opportunities for its students, including everything from rowing and track to rugby and water polo. Over 450 Drexel student-athletes compete in 18 Division I NCAA sports in the Colonial Athletic Association. Club and intramural sports are also popular, with students participating in sailing, squash, martial arts, and beach volleyball.
The Drexel Dragons men's basketball team has had several notable achievements. In 2007, they were ranked as high as 35th nationally, finishing the season with a 23-9 record. On February 22, 2018, they came back from a 34-point deficit to defeat Delaware 85-83, completing the largest comeback in Division I history. The team also received a 2025 Telly Award for its halftime show.
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Villanova University
The Villanova Wildcats are the athletic teams of Villanova University. The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team has represented Villanova University in men's college basketball since 1920. The team competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The Wildcats have won the national championship three times: in 1985, 2016, and 2018. Their 1985 NCAA Division I championship victory as an 8th seed is still the lowest seed ever to win the title.
The Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team began in 1969 and played in the CIAW and AIAW until the 1981-82 season. They then moved to NCAA Division I. The women's team is coached by Harry Perretta, who is now in his 42nd year as head coach.
The Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse team represents Villanova University in Division I men's lacrosse. They compete in the Big East Conference and play their home games at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
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Temple University
The Temple Owls basketball team represents Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Temple University's basketball team has a long history of success in NCAA Division I, with the sixth-most wins of any men's college basketball program in the history of the division.
The Temple Owls play their home games in the Liacouras Center on the university's main campus. The team's official mascot is Hooter, and the university also has a live owl, Stella, who cheers on the team from the sidelines during home games. The Temple Owls' colours are cherry and white.
The Temple Owls basketball team has had a number of notable achievements over the years. They won the inaugural National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1938, which was recognised as a national championship-level tournament at the time. They won the NIT again in 1969. The team has made over thirty appearances in the NCAA tournament, although they have never won it. The Owls have also made the National Invitation Tournament 19 times, with a combined record of 23-17.
The Temple Owls have had several notable players and coaches. Former head coaches Harry Litwack and John Chaney are both members of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Notable players include Mark Macon, Juan Ignacio Sanchez, Eddie Jones, Lavoy Allen, Aaron McKie, Tim Perry, and Mardy Collins, who have all played in the NBA.
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Frequently asked questions
Philadelphia University is in Division II of the NCAA.
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an association of six college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It includes NCAA Division I basketball schools Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova.
Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, and Temple are located in Philadelphia, while Villanova is located in a nearby suburb.
La Salle, Saint Joseph's, and Villanova are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, while Temple is the only public university in the group.
