Big 5 Classic Explained

Big 5 Classic
Sport:College basketball
Founded:2023
Teams:6
Venue:Wells Fargo CenterPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Country:United States
Tv:NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus, Peacock
Sponsor:MHS Lift

The Big 5 Classic, officially known as the MHS Lift Big 5 Classic for sponsorship reasons, is an annual early-season college basketball showcase featuring the six member schools of the Philadelphia Big 5Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. The tournament begins in November and concludes on the first Saturday in December with a triple-header at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Before 2023, the Big 5 members played each other once annually in a round-robin format, determining the "champion" as the school(s) with the most wins in Big 5 play. However, in January 2023, administrators from the five member schools agreed on a new format for Big 5 play. This included the creation of the concluding triple-header called the Big 5 Classic and the addition of Drexel University to the series. The motivation behind this change was to "resuscitate" the Big 5, as the series had experienced declining attendance figures in the preceding years.[1]

In the new format, the six schools are divided into two pods: Pod 1 includes Drexel, La Salle, and Temple, while Pod 2 features Penn, Saint Joseph's, and Villanova. Throughout November, before the Big 5 Classic in December, round-robin play occurs within each pod, with each team playing the other two teams in their pod. After pod play, the series moves to the Wells Fargo Center for the Big 5 Classic, a single-day, triple-header event with three games. The first game is the 5th place game, featuring the two teams that finished 3rd in each pod; the second game is the 3rd place game, featuring the two teams that finished 2nd in each pod, and the final game is the championship game, featuring the two teams that finished 1st in each pod. Tiebreaker rules for pod placement are currently unknown,[2] [3] but a local media source speculated that NET rankings, which are not public in late November, would be used, if necessary.[4]

In June 2024, the athletic directors of the Big 5 member schools introduced the Women's Big 5 Classic, which, like the men's showcase, will be a same-day, triple-header event held on the day before the men's edition of the showcase. The first Women's Big 5 Classic is scheduled to be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 at the Finneran Pavilion.[5]

Brackets

2023

Campus site games

Campus-site games were hosted by the team listed second below.

Pod 1

Game recaps:[6] [7] [8] * – Denotes overtime periodPod 2

Games recaps:[9] [10] [11]

Standings

Pod 1
Team
1 2 0 1.000
2 1 1 .500 1
3 0 2 .000 2
Pod 2
Team
1 2 0 1.000
2 1 1 .500 1
3 0 2 .000 2

Big 5 Classic

All games were played at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2.

Game recaps:[12] [13] [14] * – Denotes overtime period

2024

Campus site games

Campus-site games were hosted by the team listed second below.

Pod 1

Game recaps:Pod 2

Game recaps:

Standings

Pod 2
Team
1 0 0 .000
2 0 0 .000
3 0 0 .000
Pod 2
Team
1 0 0 .000
2 0 0 .000
3 0 0 .000

Big 5 Classic

All games will be played at the Wells Fargo Center on December 7.

Game recaps:

Notes

  1. Web site: O'Neil . Dana . Big 5 schools agree to new format . 2023-11-15 . .
  2. Web site: Gabriel . Kerith . 2023-07-20 . The inaugural schedule and format are set for the new (six-team) Big 5 . 2023-11-16 . .
  3. Web site: 2023-04-11 . Big 5 officially adds Drexel, announces new series format . 2023-11-16 . NBC Sports Philadelphia .
  4. Web site: The New Big 5 Has Had Plenty of Drama. Now, There are Essentially Two Semifinals on Nov. 29.. Neiburg. Jeff. The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 15, 2023. November 30, 2023.
  5. Web site: Center . Wells Fargo . Big 5 Classic Wells Fargo Center . 2024-07-21 . www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com . en.
  6. Web site: Brickus Puts up 18, La Salle Knocks off Drexel 67–61. The Associated Press. November 7, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  7. Web site: Miller Scores 19 in Temple's 66–64 Win against Drexel. The Associated Press. November 14, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  8. Web site: Temple Tops La Salle 106–99 in 3 OTs; 10 Players Foul Out and Teams Combine for 81 Free Throws. The Associated Press. November 29, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  9. Web site: Saint Joseph's (PA) Wins 69–61 against Pennsylvania. Fox Sports. November 10, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  10. Web site: Ivy League Penn Gets 22 Points from Tyler Perkins in 76–72 Win over No. 21 Villanova at the Palestra. The Associated Press. November 13, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  11. Web site: Reynolds' 24 Points Leads Saint Joseph's to Win over No. 18 Villanova. The Associated Press. November 29, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  12. Web site: Drexel Dragons Burst through Big 5 Classic with 57–55 Win over No. 18 Villanova. The Associated Press. December 2, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  13. Web site: Brantley, La Salle Knock off Pennsylvania 93–92 in OT for Third Place at Big 5 Classic. ESPN. December 2, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  14. Web site: Fleming Has 22, Saint Joseph's (PA) Beats Temple 74–65. The Associated Press. December 2, 2023. December 3, 2023.