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2020 Big East Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Wednesday, March 11th (first round); Thursday, March 12th (quarterfinals); Friday, March 13th (semifinals); Saturday, March 14th (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site

Madison Square Garden continues as home of both the old and new versions of the Big East Tournament—an uninterrupted run that began in 1983.

TV/Streaming Info

FS1 will air the first eight games of the tournament, with Fox picking up the final on Saturday night.

Participants

All 10 teams will play in this season’s event.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Wed., March 11)

FS1 will air both games.

Game 1: No. 9 St. John’s 75, No. 8 Georgetown Hoyas (15-17, 5-13) 62
The Hoyas swept the season series.

Game 2: No. 10 DePaul 71, No. 7 Xavier Musketeers (19-13, 8-10) 67
The Musketeers swept the season series.

Quarterfinals (Thu., March 12)

FS1 will air all four games.

Game 3: No. 9 St. John’s Red Storm (17-15, 5-13) vs. No. 1 Creighton Bluejays (24-7, 13-5), 12 p.m.
The season series was a home split.

Game 4: No. 5 Butler Bulldogs (22-9, 10-8) vs. No. 4 Providence Friars (19-12, 12-6), approx. 2:30 p.m.
The season series was a road split.

Game 5: No. 10 DePaul Blue Demons (16-16, 3-15) vs. No. 2 Villanova Wildcats (24-7, 13-5), 7 p.m.
The Wildcats swept the season series.

Game 6: No. 6 Marquette Golden Eagles (18-12, 8-10) vs. No. 3 Seton Hall Pirates (21-9, 13-5), approx. 9:30 p.m.
The Pirates swept the season series.

Semifinals (Fri., March 13)

FS1 will air both games.

Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 6:30 p.m.
Game 8: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, approx. 9 p.m.

Championship (Sat., March 14)

Game 9: Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m. (Fox)

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, the No. 1 seed has won just three Big East Tournament titles, with all of those victories coming in the last five years. Note that the No. 7 and No. 9 seed titles came in the conference’s earlier super-sized configuration.

BOver the past 10 seasons, the No. 1 seed has won three , with the No. 2 seed claiming two.

• 1 seed (3): 2015, 2017, 2019
• 2 seed (2): 2013, 2018
• 3 seed (2): 2010, 2016
• 4 seed (1); 2014
• 7 seed (1): 2012
• 9 seed (1): 2011

10-Year NCAA Bid Totals

• 11 bids (1): 2011 (13-10 record, 16 members, UConn national champion)
• 9 bids (1); 2012 (14-9 record, 16 members)
• 8 bids (2): 2010 (8-8 record, 16 members), 2013 (13-7 record, 15 members, Louisville national champions (vacated))
• 7 bids (1): 2017 (6-7 record, 10 members)
• 6 bids (2): 2018 (9-5 record, 10 members, Villanova national champions), 2015 (5-6 record, 10 members)
• 5 bids (1): 2016 (9-4 record, 10 members, Villanova national champions)
• 4 bids (2): 2019 (1-4 record, 10 members), 2014 (2-4 record, 10 members)

While it will be impossible for the 10-team Big East to place 11 teams in the 2020 field, that highly unlikely opportunity arrives when the UConn Huskies return to the fold in 2021. Look for the conference to again send 70 percent of its members to the NCAAs, equaling 2017’s percentage.

Last Conference Tournament Championships

Villanova: 2019 (1 seed)
Seton Hall: 2016 (3 seed)
Providence: 2014 (4 seed)
Creighton: 2013 (1 seed, MVC)
Butler: 2011 (2 seed, Horizon League)
Georgetown: 2007 (1 seed)
Xavier: 2006 (10 seed, Atlantic 10)
St. John’s: 2000 (3 seed)
Marquette: 1997 (5 seed, C-USA)

Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Marquette, and Xavier have yet to win the Big East Tournament; however, the Blue Demons are the only current conference member without a single league tournament title on their honor roll.

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