Big 5 Palestra doubleheader tonight. Should be cool!
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Big 5 Palestra doubleheader tonight. Should be cool!
Owls are 2 wins from the Big 5 Title. 🍒⚪️
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Big 5 Palestra doubleheader tonight. Should be cool!
Owls are 2 wins from the Big 5 Title. 🍒⚪️
Good night at the old barn. Hawks Penn ended up being a good game. Hawks terrible early and got down 17 but gutted out a nice OT win. Still a great place to watch a game.
Big 5 Palestra doubleheader tonight. Should be cool!
Owls are 2 wins from the Big 5 Title. 🍒⚪️
Good night at the old barn. Hawks Penn ended up being a good game. Hawks terrible early and got down 17 but gutted out a nice OT win. Still a great place to watch a game.
So you made it there? I honestly had no idea they were doing a doubleheader until like 2 days ago. Temple usually has a rep who's in contact with me about tixx and stuff but they are off their game this year.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Big 5 Palestra doubleheader tonight. Should be cool!
Owls are 2 wins from the Big 5 Title. 🍒⚪️
Good night at the old barn. Hawks Penn ended up being a good game. Hawks terrible early and got down 17 but gutted out a nice OT win. Still a great place to watch a game.
So you made it there? I honestly had no idea they were doing a doubleheader until like 2 days ago. Temple usually has a rep who's in contact with me about tixx and stuff but they are off their game this year.
Yes but tickets were not offered to season ticket holders. Everyone had to go through Penn for tickets so wasn't the easiest process.
The Big 5 is not going to die, that’s the critical message Philadelphia hoops coaches and administrators want to send following a meeting about the beloved City Series this week. On Nov. 30 a sparse announced crowd of 3,300 attended a doubleheader at the Palestra, setting off alarm bells in the city about the future of the traditional hoops rivalry games.
Representatives from Villanova, Temple, Saint Joseph’s, Penn, La Salle and Drexel have been meeting to figure out what the future is for the Big 5, a source involved in the conversations but not authorized to speak publicly told The Athletic.
The realities of current college basketball schedules have led to struggles in making the city institution vibrant and relevant in recent years.
The hope is to turn the games into a true event, with multiple options on the table for how to accomplish that, the source said.
What’s gone wrong?
The meeting, the source said, was not merely reactionary to those games. The group, including Drexel, has been meeting for months, trying to find a way to resuscitate the Big 5. But certainly, the coaches and administrators feel the heat for a call to action even more following the disappointing doubleheader. “It’s conversations about how to breathe life into it,’’ the source said.
Most critical — everyone is on board. Years ago, Villanova turned into the city villain when it cited conference scheduling conflicts and, in the eyes of many, temporarily killed the Big 5. The bitter feelings persisted for years, so bad that Rollie Massimino held a longtime grudge against the city that once loved him.
Those same scheduling conflicts persist — and frankly are even more complicated at some level — but the coaches and administrators are not looking for a way to end the Big 5, but rather, to save it. “We are all committed,’’ the source says. That includes Drexel, which is not an original Big 5 member but has been welcomed in as part of the City 6 and will be included in any scheduling going forward.
What are the options moving forward?
Finding a workable solution will require some creativity, the source admits. The Big 5 has been hurt by both a lack of competition and an overcrowded basketball calendar. As Villanova soared to national prominence, the Wildcats began to run roughshod over its Brotherly Love competitors. At one point, they owned a 25-game win streak, a record for the 63-year-old institution. Mix in swollen conference membership and league commitments — the Wildcats, for example, play in both the Gavitt Games and the Big 12/Big East Challenge — and more often than not, Big 5 games were arbitrarily shoehorned in where they fit, with little to no juice. Sometimes they’re played on campus, sometimes at the Palestra. Saint Joseph’s and La Salle are both part of the Atlantic 10, which makes discerning league battles from Big 5 games difficult.
It all led to a watered-down treatment of what was once a proud Philadelphia tradition, the seeming nadir coming at that doubleheader, when the schools didn’t even bring their bands to the Palestra.
Coaches and administrators are kicking around all sorts of ideas — there is still a desire to crown a Big 5 champion — including a two-day round-robin tournament at the Palestra. They’ve looked at various calendar dates — maybe during the holidays, or perhaps centering it around the Army–Navy game weekend in early December. The goal is to make it feel more like an event, and more specifically like a Philadelphia event. They are considering sponsorship and various ways to improve the branding, and incorporate all of the Big 5 entities — including the website and the Big 5 Hall of Fame — under one umbrella.
The goal — or at least the hope — is to find a remedy by next season.
Cool. I didn't even know about that doubleheader until the day before. It could've been something to take the kids too with just a little time to plan.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Cool. I didn't even know about that doubleheader until the day before. It could've been something to take the kids too with just a little time to plan.
I like the idea of a two day round robin tournament.
Cool. I didn't even know about that doubleheader until the day before. It could've been something to take the kids too with just a little time to plan.
I like the idea of a two day round robin tournament.
except there are 5 or 6 schools if you include Drexel, so needs to be 3 games each team. I don't think the tournament is a bad idea the question becomes when to have it. Most likely going to end up in the 1st week or 2nd week of the season. the issue with that is people don't really care about college hoops in early November so i don't see it creating that much of a buzz. The only want to create a buzz is the teams, other than nova, have to get better...a lot better. Great teams create a buzz in this town.
2-day tourney - so something like a triple-header featuring the City 6 for two straight days?
If they are scheduling for Army-Navy weekend it'd be Friday night and Saturday after the game or something like that? Or maybe the Army-Navy thing was a separate idea.
Yeah the teams need to be better. I think the Owls are coming around - they are still very young (and we don't have one-and-done guys). Fran just started with LaSalle so let's give that time. By my eye test St. Joe's stinks. Don't know anything about Penn. I think to get back to the days of 3 Big 5 teams in the Dance we probably need the tourney to expand, which sounds awful.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
2-day tourney - so something like a triple-header featuring the City 6 for two straight days?
If they are scheduling for Army-Navy weekend it'd be Friday night and Saturday after the game or something like that? Or maybe the Army-Navy thing was a separate idea.
Yeah the teams need to be better. I think the Owls are coming around - they are still very young (and we don't have one-and-done guys). Fran just started with LaSalle so let's give that time. By my eye test St. Joe's stinks. Don't know anything about Penn. I think to get back to the days of 3 Big 5 teams in the Dance we probably need the tourney to expand, which sounds awful.
you can't have 6 teams and have a 2-day tourney and crown a champion....unless two teams are playing 2 games in a day which there is zero chance of that happening. More than likely will be preliminary games on campuses than a 2 day 4 team semi-finals and finals tourney after the preliminary rounds. Lots to work out with all the different leagues and tv contracts. I think it has some good possibilities though. At least they are looking into it which is good to hear.
The Hawks are pretty young but yes right now we suck. Young guys have ability but aren't ready for the level of D1 yet. Top 3 guards are freshman and sophomores. Firing Phil was the right move but hiring Lange has been a disaster. Big decision will have to be made at the end of the year this year on Lange. Good and local recruiting class coming in next year but can you keep around a guy who has won so little games in 4 years? School is getting new President as well so who knows how that affects Lange. Personally I thought they should have fired him after last season. It's beyond sad how bad it's gotten on Hawk Hill.
Obviously a weekend of triple headers wouldn't be the full Big 5 Slate - don't think anyone said that...
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Okay I didn’t read the whole thing. They are looking to sort of replace the round robin with some sort of tournament. I like traditions but we’ll see how it goes.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Okay I didn’t read the whole thing. They are looking to sort of replace the round robin with some sort of tournament. I like traditions but we’ll see how it goes.
I think the tournament, if they can pull it off, sounds better than the regular round robin to me, tradition be damned.
But...and don't take this the wrong way...it will be awkward if there's always one team contending for a final four going up against 5 other teams who'd just happy making the tournament in March. Temple seems like they are on the right track though. I hope McKee can continue to build that program back up.
Regarding Penn----Jordan Dingle is really good. I was impressed with him the other night. He scored like all of Penn's points for about a 10 minute stretch at one point.
Either way there is still no "Big 5" or "City 6" or whatever in any other city. Nothing in Kansas, with KU, KSU and WSU. Nothing in NY, nothing in DC, nothing in LA. And yeah, the tourney idea does sound like more fun. We're America, we don't award things by regular season standings!
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
So just about every Big 5 team is around .500 now. I guess you can say Temple is the best Big 5 team this year.
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Johnny you beat the number 1 team in the country on their home court - no gloating here? This Temple team has to be maddening to you though. Beat Houston but lose to UMES and Wagner. If they can go on a little winning streak that win should at least get them into the discussion of the bubble. Probably have to win about 10 in a row though to get serious consideration
My Hawks on a 3 game winning streak all in the A10. Showing signs of improvement.
yeah nice win for Temple. That was their first win against a #1 team since '00. They are probably the only team around here that makes the big dance (excluding Penn St. which has a good shot)
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
yeah nice win for Temple. That was their first win against a #1 team since '00. They are probably the only team around here that makes the big dance (excluding Penn St. which has a good shot)
their NET was like in the 150s before yesterday. They still have a lot of work to do. This is going to be the 1st year since the tourney was expanded to 64 then 69 that at least one city team won't be in tourney. Unless someone wins their conference tourney.
Johnny you beat the number 1 team in the country on their home court - no gloating here? This Temple team has to be maddening to you though. Beat Houston but lose to UMES and Wagner. If they can go on a little winning streak that win should at least get them into the discussion of the bubble. Probably have to win about 10 in a row though to get serious consideration
My Hawks on a 3 game winning streak all in the A10. Showing signs of improvement.
Yes, very frustrating to beat Villanova but still blow the Big 5 by losing to Penn and beat #1 Houston on the road but in all likelihood too many bad losses to go to the Dance. But yeah that win was nice. Maybe it'll be a turning point for Aaron's boys. Last game I went to Memphis buzzer-beat us.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
The Owls survived the let down game vs. South Florida. We (of course) blew a 10 point lead and survived to get to OT, refused to foul up 3 and SF with the ball and 10 seconds left, and they missed the 3. Phew.
On the way out someone said "how many 10 point leads have they blown" and I answered "ALL OF THEM".
Also this one AAC ref was there and he so has it in for us. And I'm pretty sure my taunting is egging him on to call even more nonsense fouls on us.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
The Philly Six has found a solution to keep the Big 5 tradition alive. After months of conversations and searching for solutions to reinvent the deep-rooted city series, administrators and coaches have agreed to institute a new format, starting with the 2023-2024 season, a person involved in the planning told The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
The pod teams will play each other in November, with the winners matching up based on their record in a tripleheader (a designated fifth place, third place and championship game, if you will) at the Wells Fargo Center on the first Saturday in December.
What to make of the changes
It is not a perfect solution. The teams won’t play one another in a full round-robin, as tradition dictates — nor will they play at the Palestra — but the source said “for the first time in a long time, we are all on the same page committing something new that will breathe new life into this thing.” Attendance has sagged at recent Big 5 games, diluting the once proud city tradition.
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Specifics, including sponsorship and a television deal, still need to be hammered out but the Wells Fargo staff is also involved in the planning.
What if everyone in a pod goes 1-1? I'm sure there are another 100 questions to be answered too. Still sounds like fun.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
What if everyone in a pod goes 1-1? I'm sure there are another 100 questions to be answered too. Still sounds like fun.
who gets the home games in the round robin? so now there will be years where my Hawks don't get either Nova or Temple at home? that sucks for season ticket holders. And with Hawks and LaSalle both in the A10 I would assume they would have to be in separate pods each year.
That being said I'm not opposed to this idea. I do think it might breathe a little life back into the Big 5 games and at least has some structure to it.
Let's see if Temple can beat Houston again tonight. LaSalle/St, Joe's game was pretty good.
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Let's see if Temple can beat Houston again tonight. LaSalle/St, Joe's game was pretty good.
The Hawks sucked today. Terrible effort. Bad loss after had been playing pretty well. Had won 5 of 6.
I only caught like part of the game. So the score wasn't any indication of how they played then?
Also doesn't look liek Temple is gonna beat Houston. Down by like 12 with about 3 and a half minutes to go
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Let's see if Temple can beat Houston again tonight. LaSalle/St, Joe's game was pretty good.
The Hawks sucked today. Terrible effort. Bad loss after had been playing pretty well. Had won 5 of 6.
I only caught like part of the game. So the score wasn't any indication of how they played then?
Also doesn't look liek Temple is gonna beat Houston. Down by like 12 with about 3 and a half minutes to go
Nope Hawks were terrible. LaSale had 16 offensive rebounds and Hawks were dreadful from foul line. Just a bad game overall fir Hawks. Should have been a 20 point loss.
Temple looked good first half just got overwhelmed in 2nd half. Houston’s d in 2nd half was great: they are just so physical. Hard team to play against
Comments
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Big 5 schools seeking to reimagine series scheduling for college basketball institution: Source
The Big 5 is not going to die, that’s the critical message Philadelphia hoops coaches and administrators want to send following a meeting about the beloved City Series this week. On Nov. 30 a sparse announced crowd of 3,300 attended a doubleheader at the Palestra, setting off alarm bells in the city about the future of the traditional hoops rivalry games.
What’s gone wrong?
The meeting, the source said, was not merely reactionary to those games. The group, including Drexel, has been meeting for months, trying to find a way to resuscitate the Big 5. But certainly, the coaches and administrators feel the heat for a call to action even more following the disappointing doubleheader. “It’s conversations about how to breathe life into it,’’ the source said.
Most critical — everyone is on board. Years ago, Villanova turned into the city villain when it cited conference scheduling conflicts and, in the eyes of many, temporarily killed the Big 5. The bitter feelings persisted for years, so bad that Rollie Massimino held a longtime grudge against the city that once loved him.
Those same scheduling conflicts persist — and frankly are even more complicated at some level — but the coaches and administrators are not looking for a way to end the Big 5, but rather, to save it. “We are all committed,’’ the source says. That includes Drexel, which is not an original Big 5 member but has been welcomed in as part of the City 6 and will be included in any scheduling going forward.
What are the options moving forward?
Finding a workable solution will require some creativity, the source admits. The Big 5 has been hurt by both a lack of competition and an overcrowded basketball calendar. As Villanova soared to national prominence, the Wildcats began to run roughshod over its Brotherly Love competitors. At one point, they owned a 25-game win streak, a record for the 63-year-old institution. Mix in swollen conference membership and league commitments — the Wildcats, for example, play in both the Gavitt Games and the Big 12/Big East Challenge — and more often than not, Big 5 games were arbitrarily shoehorned in where they fit, with little to no juice. Sometimes they’re played on campus, sometimes at the Palestra. Saint Joseph’s and La Salle are both part of the Atlantic 10, which makes discerning league battles from Big 5 games difficult.
It all led to a watered-down treatment of what was once a proud Philadelphia tradition, the seeming nadir coming at that doubleheader, when the schools didn’t even bring their bands to the Palestra.
Coaches and administrators are kicking around all sorts of ideas — there is still a desire to crown a Big 5 champion — including a two-day round-robin tournament at the Palestra. They’ve looked at various calendar dates — maybe during the holidays, or perhaps centering it around the Army–Navy game weekend in early December. The goal is to make it feel more like an event, and more specifically like a Philadelphia event. They are considering sponsorship and various ways to improve the branding, and incorporate all of the Big 5 entities — including the website and the Big 5 Hall of Fame — under one umbrella.
The goal — or at least the hope — is to find a remedy by next season.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
If they are scheduling for Army-Navy weekend it'd be Friday night and Saturday after the game or something like that? Or maybe the Army-Navy thing was a separate idea.
Yeah the teams need to be better. I think the Owls are coming around - they are still very young (and we don't have one-and-done guys). Fran just started with LaSalle so let's give that time. By my eye test St. Joe's stinks. Don't know anything about Penn. I think to get back to the days of 3 Big 5 teams in the Dance we probably need the tourney to expand, which sounds awful.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
The Hawks are pretty young but yes right now we suck. Young guys have ability but aren't ready for the level of D1 yet. Top 3 guards are freshman and sophomores. Firing Phil was the right move but hiring Lange has been a disaster. Big decision will have to be made at the end of the year this year on Lange. Good and local recruiting class coming in next year but can you keep around a guy who has won so little games in 4 years? School is getting new President as well so who knows how that affects Lange. Personally I thought they should have fired him after last season. It's beyond sad how bad it's gotten on Hawk Hill.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
But...and don't take this the wrong way...it will be awkward if there's always one team contending for a final four going up against 5 other teams who'd just happy making the tournament in March. Temple seems like they are on the right track though. I hope McKee can continue to build that program back up.
Regarding Penn----Jordan Dingle is really good. I was impressed with him the other night. He scored like all of Penn's points for about a 10 minute stretch at one point.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
My Hawks on a 3 game winning streak all in the A10. Showing signs of improvement.
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
On the way out someone said "how many 10 point leads have they blown" and I answered "ALL OF THEM".
Also this one AAC ref was there and he so has it in for us. And I'm pretty sure my taunting is egging him on to call even more nonsense fouls on us.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Big 5 schools agree to new format starting in 2023-24 season: Source
The Philly Six has found a solution to keep the Big 5 tradition alive. After months of conversations and searching for solutions to reinvent the deep-rooted city series, administrators and coaches have agreed to institute a new format, starting with the 2023-2024 season, a person involved in the planning told The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
What to make of the changes
It is not a perfect solution. The teams won’t play one another in a full round-robin, as tradition dictates — nor will they play at the Palestra — but the source said “for the first time in a long time, we are all on the same page committing something new that will breathe new life into this thing.” Attendance has sagged at recent Big 5 games, diluting the once proud city tradition.
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Specifics, including sponsorship and a television deal, still need to be hammered out but the Wells Fargo staff is also involved in the planning.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
That being said I'm not opposed to this idea. I do think it might breathe a little life back into the Big 5 games and at least has some structure to it.
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Temple looked good first half just got overwhelmed in 2nd half. Houston’s d in 2nd half was great: they are just so physical. Hard team to play against