Gavitt Tipoff Games Explained

Gavitt Tipoff Games
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Big East Conference
Sports:College Basketball
Founded:2015
Folded:2023
League:NCAA Division I
Champion:Big Ten Conference
Most Champs:Big Ten Conference (3)
Tv:FS1
Big Ten Network
ESPN2/ESPNU (2015)

The Gavitt Tipoff Games were an annual eight-game NCAA Division I men's college basketball series played between the Big Ten Conference and the Big East Conference early in the season. The games were played annually from 2015 through 2023 except in 2020, when they were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the 2021–2024 NCAA conference realignment, the final year of the series was 2023.[1]

The Gavitt Tipoff Games were played on the home courts of participating schools, with four hosted by Big Ten schools and four hosted by Big East schools each year. The eight-year deal — initially planned to run from 2015 to 2022, but instead running through 2023 because of the cancellation of the 2020 games — had each Big East team participate a minimum of six times and each Big Ten program take part a minimum of four times.[2] The only exception was UConn, which moved from the American Athletic Conference to the Big East for the 2020–2021 season and never played in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.

Each game played at a Big East campus was televised by Fox Sports 1 and each game played on a Big Ten campus was televised by Fox Sports 1 or the Big Ten Network.

The Big Ten won three series and the Big East won one. The other four series were tied.

The series was named in honor of the late Dave Gavitt (1937–2011), former athletic director at Providence College who served from 1979 to 1990 as the first commissioner of the original Big East Conference of 1979–2013.

Conference records

Big East Conference (1–3–4)

InstitutionWinsLossesDNPWin %
Butler Bulldogs242
UConn Huskies003
Creighton Bluejays431
DePaul Blue Demons431
152
341
Providence Friars332
Seton Hall Pirates332
St. John's Red Storm431
Villanova Wildcats332
Xavier Musketeers332

Big Ten Conference (3–1–4)

InstitutionWinsLossesDNPWin %
Illinois Fighting Illini143
Indiana Hoosiers413
Iowa Hawkeyes233
Maryland Terrapins314
Michigan Wolverines323
Michigan State Spartans404
224
Nebraska Cornhuskers143
Northwestern Wildcats224.500
Ohio State Buckeyes314
Penn State Nittany Lions314.750
Purdue Boilermakers323
Rutgers Scarlet Knights233
Wisconsin Badgers143

Results

2015 Tied 4–4

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Tue., Nov. 1768–62 5,023 Big Ten (1–0)
87–63 6,500 Tied (1–1)
75–71 17,950 Big Ten (2–1)
60–59 FS1 8,069 Tied (2–2)
Thu., Nov. 1961–59 FS1 4,540
86–65 17,472 Tied (3–3)
89–61 FS1 13,297 Big Ten (4–3)
Fri., Nov. 2086–70 BTN 11,967 Tied (4–4)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll (Nov 16).
Did not participate: Butler, Seton Hall (Big East); Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin (Big Ten)

2016 Tied 4–4

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Mon., Nov. 1479–7614,846
Tue., Nov. 1576–7513,145 Tied (1–1)
79–67FS1 17,879
70–68FS1 7,858
Thu., Nov. 1772–67BTN 11,089
66–59FS1 4,057 Tied (3–3)
Iowa91–83Carver–Hawkeye ArenaIowa City, IABTN10,391
Fri., Nov. 1892–86BTN 8,873 Tied (4–4)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll (Nov 14). Sources:[3]
Did not participate: Marquette, Xavier (Big East); Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State (Big Ten)

2017 Tied 4–4

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Mon., Nov. 13 86–74 10,214 Big Ten (1–0)
Tue., Nov. 14 86–71 FS1 13,307 Big Ten (2–0)
84–68 FS1 8,452 Big Ten (2–1)
79–65 FS1 16,317 Big Ten (3–1)
92–88 6,384 Big Ten (3–2)
Thu., Nov. 16 79–56 Carnesecca Arena • New York City, NYFS1 4,652 Tied (3–3)
80–70 FS1 17,287
Fri., Nov. 17 82–73 BTN 11,254 Tied (4–4)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll (Nov 13). Sources:[4]
Did not participate: Georgetown; Villanova (Big East); Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers (Big Ten)

2018 Big Ten 5–3

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Tue., Nov. 13 XavierWisconsin77–68Cintas CenterCincinnati, OH10,312
GeorgetownIllinois88–80 State Farm CenterChampaign, ILFS1 14,656 Tied (1–1)
No. 18 Michigan 73–46 FS1 6,501 Big Ten (2–1)
Nebraska 80–57 15,713 Big Ten (3–1)
96–73FS1 17,222 Big Ten (4–1)
Thu., Nov. 15 69–60 FS1 17,146 Big Ten (5–1)
FS1 3,926 Big Ten (5–2)
Fri., Nov. 16 84–65 BTN 7,102 Big Ten (5–3)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll (Nov 12).
Did not participate: Butler; Providence (Big East); Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue (Big Ten)

2019 Big Ten 5–3

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Mon., Nov. 11 DePaulIowa93–78 Carver–Hawkeye ArenaIowa City, IA9,961
Tue., Nov. 12 CreightonMichigan 79–69 Crisler CenterAnn Arbor, MIFS1 11,398 Tied (1–1)
Butler 64–56 Hinkle FieldhouseIndianapolis, INFS1 7,879
No. 10 VillanovaNo. 16 Ohio State 76–51 Value City Arena • Columbus, OHFS1 16,419 Tied (2–2)
Marquette 65–55 Fiserv Forum • Milwaukee, WIFS1 15,659
ProvidenceNorthwestern72–63 Welsh–Ryan ArenaEvanston, IL5,204 Tied (3–3)
Thu., Nov. 14 Penn State 81–66 Capital One ArenaWashington, D.C.FS1 8,691 Big Ten (4–3)
76–73 Prudential CenterNewark, NJFS1 14,051 Big Ten (5–3)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll (Nov 12).
Did not participate: St. John's; Xavier (Big East); Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Rutgers, Wisconsin (Big Ten)

2020 — Cancelled

Plans announced in May 2020 called for Butler, Creighton, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Villanova, and Xavier to represent the Big East and Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin the Big Ten in the 2020 Gavitt Tipoff Games,[5] which were scheduled for November 16–20, 2020.[6] After the NCAA delayed the start of the 2020–21 season from November 10 to November 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[7] however, the Big East and Big Ten jointly announced on October 28, 2020, that the 2020 Gavitt Tipoff Games were cancelled and the series would be on hiatus for a year.[6] In their statement, the two conferences also announced their intention to resume the games during the 2021–22 season.[6]

2021 Big East 6–2

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Mon., Nov. 15 Marquette67–66 Fiserv Forum • Milwaukee, WI14,631
Providence Wisconsin63–58 Kohl Center • Madison, WIFS1 15,773
Tue., Nov. 16 Creighton Nebraska77–69 Pinnacle Bank ArenaLincoln, NEFS1 15,939
Seton Hall No. 4 Michigan67–65 Crisler CenterAnn Arbor, MIFS1 12,536
Michigan State 73–52 Hinkle FieldhouseIndianapolis, INFS1 9,100
Indiana 76–74 Simon Skjodt Assembly HallBloomington, INFS1 17,222
Thu., Nov. 18 Xavier71–65 Cintas CenterCincinnati, OHFS1 10,379
DePaul Rutgers73–70 Wintrust Arena • Chicago, ILFS1 2,844
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD. Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll.
Did not participate: UConn, Georgetown, Villanova (Big East); Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue (Big Ten)

2022 Big Ten 62

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Mon., Nov. 14 DePaul69–53 Williams ArenaMinneapolis, MN8,426
ButlerPenn State68–62Bryce Jordan CenterUniversity Park, PA6,762 Tied (1–1)
Tue., Nov. 15 GeorgetownNorthwestern 75–63 Capital One ArenaWashington, D.C.FS1 5,518 Big Ten (2–1)
MarquettePurdue 75–70 Mackey ArenaWest Lafayette, INFS1 14,876 Big Ten (3–1)
Seton HallIowa 83–67 Prudential CenterNewark, NJFS1 8,933 Big Ten (4–1)
Thu., Nov. 17 St. John's70–50 Carnesecca ArenaQueens, NYFS1 3,933 Big Ten (4–2)
Fri., Nov. 18 XavierNo. 12 Indiana 81–79 Cintas CenterCincinnati, OHFS1 10,586 Big Ten (5-2)
VillanovaMichigan State 73–71 Breslin CenterEast Lansing, MIFS1 14,797 Big Ten (6–2)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll.
Did not participate: UConn, Creighton, Providence (Big East); Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin (Big Ten)

2023 Tied 44

DateTimeBig East teamBig Ten teamScoreLocationTelevisionAttendanceLeader
Mon., Nov. 13 6:30 p.m. St. John'sMichigan 89–73 Madison Square Garden • New York, NY14,188
8:30 p.m. XavierNo. 2 Purdue83–71 Mackey ArenaWest Lafayette, INFS1 14,876 Big Ten (2–0)
Tue., Nov. 14 6:00 p.m. Providence 72–59 FS1 12,069Big Ten (2–1)
8:00 p.m. No. 4 Marquette 71–64 FS1 15,544 Tied (2–2)
10:00 p.m. No. 8 Creighton 92–84 FS1 17,352
8:30 p.m. Rutgers 71–60 FS1 8,000 Tied (3–3)
Fri., Nov. 17 6:30 p.m. ButlerNo. 18 Michigan State 74–54 Breslin CenterEast Lansing, MIFS1 14,797 Big Ten (4–3)
8:30 p.m. No. 21 Villanova Maryland57–40 Finneran PavilionVillanova, PAFS1 6,501 Tied (4–4)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in EST. Rankings from AP Poll.
Did not participate: UConn, DePaul, Seton Hall (Big East); Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State (Big Ten)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gavitt Games will not be played during 2024-25 season. Jon. Rothstein. 23 October 2023 .
  2. Web site: Big Ten, BIG EAST announce matchups for inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games. 22 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Big Ten, Big East announce matchups for 2016 Gavitt Games. 3 May 2016.
  4. Web site: BIG EAST, Big Ten Announce Matchups for Gavitt Games.
  5. https://www.idsnews.com/article/2020/05/iu-mens-basketball-to-compete-in-2020-gavitt-games Cohen, Matt, "IU men’s basketball to compete in 2020 Gavitt Games," Indiana Daily Student, May 19, 2020 Accessed March 27, 2021
  6. Web site: 2020-10-28. BIG EAST Conference and Big Ten Conference Statement on 2020 Gavitt Tipoff Games. https://web.archive.org/web/20201101024510/https://bigten.org/news/2020/10/28/mens-basketball-big-east-conference-and-big-ten-conference-statement-on-2020-gavitt-tipoff-games.aspx. dead. November 1, 2020. 2021-03-07. Big Ten Conference. en.
  7. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/16/ncaa-basketball-season-delay/ Wang, Gene, "NCAA delays start of basketball season two weeks, plans no changes to postseason tournament," washingtonpost.com, September 16, 2020 Accessed March 9, 2021