Philadelphia Big 5

Philadelphia Big 5
	300px New Philadelphia Big 5 logo as of 2013–14
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1955
No. of teams	5
Country	United States
Headquarters	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Most recent champion(s)	Villanova (2014–15)
Most titles	Temple (27)
Related competitions	A-10, AAC, Big East, and; Ivy League basketball
Official website	www.philadelphiabig5.org

The Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is not a conference, but rather a group of NCAA Division I basketball schools who compete for the Philadelphia city championship.

The Big 5 consists of the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University, Saint Joseph's University, Temple University, and Villanova University. All 5 schools are located in the Philadelphia area (Saint Joseph's straddles the city's border and Villanova is in a nearby Main Line suburb).

Big 5 schools represent some of the oldest, most successful, and most well-known programs in the nation. Four of the five teams are in the top 40 for all-time Division I basketball victories. The history and tradition of Big 5 schools are also vast, such as the Saint Joseph's Hawk wing flapping, "V for Villanova", and the historic Palestra, among others.

The Big 5 creed reads: "They say there's no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia."

History

The Big 5 was formed in 1955^[1] in order to showcase the rich basketball talent in the city and help pay for the upkeep on the Palestra, where the games historically took place. All schools agreed to split ticket and concessions revenues equally once Penn was paid for upkeep costs on the Palestra. The intense rivalries between the teams and the proximity of the schools and their fans make the Big 5 a unique tradition in college basketball.

Historically, games were played as double or triple-headers. However, it has been argued^{[according to whom?]} that changes in the structure of college basketball in the last quarter of the 20th century caused the Big 5 to lose much of its significance. During the heyday of the Big 5, many major college programs, especially in the northeastern United States, were independents. As the Big East and Atlantic 10 conferences expanded to cover most of the Northeast (Villanova joined the Big East, while Temple, St. Joseph's, and La Salle joined the Atlantic 10), and as college basketball became increasingly driven by television and its need to appeal to a broad national audience, the local character of the Big 5 was a liability. The round-robin series ended in 1991.

In 1999, the Big 5 round-robin series was revived, and has continued to this day. Some things have changed from the series' heyday: the schools no longer evenly split the proceeds from the games, and La Salle, Temple, and Villanova do not always use the Palestra for their home games in the series. Nonetheless, the revival of the Big 5 provides a living link to the past of college basketball.

There are intense rivalries inside the Big 5, most notably the rivalry between Villanova and Saint Joseph's, also known as the Holy War. The St. Joe's–Temple rivalry has increased in intensity in recent years, mostly because of the "Goon Gate" incident in 2005 involving former Temple coach John Chaney where he sent in a player to intentionally foul John Bryant which led to his fractured arm. La Salle considers Saint Joseph's to be its biggest rival.

As of 2015, at least one team from the Big 5 had made it into the NCAA Tournament for 38 straight years.

Each year the Herb Good Basketball Club selects All-Big 5 teams, as well as a coach of the year, and the most outstanding player in Big 5 competition receives the Robert V. Geasey Trophy.

Future

Some have suggested adding Drexel to the Big 5. These talks amplified during the 2006–07 season, as Drexel beat three of the four Big 5 teams it played, but no changes have been made.^[2]^[3] Drexel is a member of the City 6, which is an inter-city intramural competition between the six schools.

Annual winners

Men

All Big 5 men's basketball teams play each other once per season for a total of four games per team. There is no season-ending Big 5 Tournament, so a "champion" of the unofficial athletics group is determined by a round-robin tournament. Since 1956 there have been three instances of a five-way tie among all member schools, which occurred in 1980–81 (2–2 records), 1991–92 (1–1 records) and 1997–98 (1–1 records).

Key
	Outright Big 5 title winner
	Shared Big 5 title winners
Team (#)	Denotes the total number of titles for that school at that point

The Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University.

At the Palestra prior to a St. Joe's – Penn basketball game.

The Palestra was the long-time home of Big 5 basketball games.

Hagan Arena is the on campus home of Saint Joseph's

The interior of The Pavilion at Villanova.

File:LaDefend.JPG

La Salle Hosts Penn at Tom Gola Arena

Season	Champion(s)^[4]	Record
1955–56	Saint Joseph's (1)	4–0
1956–57	La Salle (1) Saint Joseph's (2) Temple (1)	3–1
1957–58	Temple (2)	4–0
1958–59	Saint Joseph's (3)	4–0
1959–60	Saint Joseph's (4) Villanova (1)	3–1
1960–61	Saint Joseph's (5)	4–0
1961–62	Villanova (2)	4–0
1962–63	Pennsylvania (1) Villanova (3)	3–1
1963–64	La Salle (2)	3–1
1964–65	Saint Joseph's (6)	4–0
1965–66	Saint Joseph's (7)	4–0
1966–67	Villanova (4)	4–0
1967–68	Saint Joseph's (8)	3–1
1968–69	La Salle (3)	4–0
1969–70	Pennsylvania (2)	4–0
1970–71	Pennsylvania (3)	4–0
1971–72	Pennsylvania (4) Temple (3)	3–1
1972–73	Pennsylvania (5)	4-0
1973–74	Pennsylvania (6)	4–0
1974–75	La Salle (4)	4–0
1975–76	Saint Joseph's (9) Villanova (5)	3–1
1976–77	Pennsylvania (7) Temple (4)	3-1
1977–78	Temple (5) Villanova (6)	3–1
1978–79	Pennsylvania (8) Temple (6)	3–1
1979–80	Saint Joseph's (10)	4–0
1980–81	La Salle (5) Pennsylvania (9) St. Joseph's (11) Temple (7) Villanova (7)	2–2
1981–82	Saint Joseph's (12) Temple (8)	3–1
1982–83	Villanova (8)	3–1
1983–84	La Salle (6) Temple (9)	3–1
1984–85	Villanova (9)	4–0
1985–86	Saint Joseph's (13) Temple (10)	3–1
1986–87	Temple (11)	4–0
1987–88	Temple (12)	4–0
1988–89	La Salle (7) Temple (13)	3–1
1989–90	La Salle (8)	4–0
1990–91	Saint Joseph's (14) Temple (14)	3–1
1991–92	La Salle (9) Pennsylvania (10) Saint Joseph's (15) Temple (15) Villanova (10)	1–1
1992–93	Temple (16)	2–0
1993–94	Pennsylvania (11) Temple (17)	2–0
1994–95	Saint Joseph's (16) Temple (18)	2–0
1995–96	Temple (19)	2–0
1996–97	Temple (20) Villanova (11)	2–0
1997–98	La Salle (10) Pennsylvania (12) Saint Joseph's (17) Temple (21) Villanova (12)	1–1
1998–99	Villanova (13)	2–0
1999–00	Temple (22) Villanova (14)	3–1
2000–01	Villanova (15)	4–0
2001–02	Pennsylvania (13)	4–0
2002–03	Saint Joseph's (18)	4–0
2003–04	Saint Joseph's (19)	4–0
2004–05	Temple (23) Villanova (16)	3–1
2005–06	Villanova (17)	4–0
2006–07	Villanova (18)	4–0
2007–08	Temple (24) Villanova (19)	3–1
2008–09	Villanova (20)	4–0
2009–10	Temple (25)	4–0
2010–11	Villanova (21)	4–0
2011–12	Saint Joseph's (20) Temple (26)	3–1
2012–13	La Salle (11) Temple (27)	3–1
2013–14	Villanova (22)	4–0
2014–15	Villanova (23)	4–0

References

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↑ University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center

External links

Official site of the Philadelphia Big 5

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[4] University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center

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v t e Philadelphia Big 5
Schools	La Salle University University of Pennsylvania Saint Joseph's University Temple University Villanova University
Teams	La Salle Explorers Penn Quakers St. Joe's Hawks Temple Owls Villanova Wildcats
Arenas	Hagan Arena Liacouras Center Palestra The Pavilion Tom Gola Arena
Related	City 6 Holy War Robert V. Geasey Trophy St. Joe's–Temple Rivalry Battle of 33rd Street

v t e La Salle Explorers men's basketball
Venues	Wister Hall (19??–1955) Palestra (1955–1989) Civic Center (1989–1996) First Union Spectrum (1996–1998) Tom Gola Arena (1998–present) Hayman Center (facilities)
Culture & lore	"Fight On, Explorers" City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 (Robert V. Geasey Trophy) Scandal
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16
NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e Penn Quakers men's basketball
Venues	The Palestra (1927–present)
Rivalries	Drexel Princeton
Culture & lore	History "Fight on, Pennsylvania!" City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 (Robert V. Geasey Trophy) Penn Pep Band
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16
Helms and Premo-Porretta national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

v t e Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
Venues	Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse (1949–2008) The Palestra (2008–2009) Hagan Arena (2009–present)
Rivalries	Temple Villanova
Culture & lore	History The Hawk City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 (Robert V. Geasey Trophy) Undefeated regular season
People	Head coaches Retired numbers
Seasons	1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16
NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

v t e Temple Owls men's basketball
Venues	Mitten Hall South Hall Convention Hall (1938–1955) Palestra (1955–1984) McGonigle Hall (1969–1997) Liacouras Center (1997–present)
Rivalries	Saint Joseph's
Culture & lore	City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 (Robert V. Geasey Trophy)
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Helms and Premo-Porretta national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

Philadelphia Big 5

Contents

History

Future

Annual winners

Men

References

External links

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v t e Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
Venues	Jake Nevin Field House (1932–1986) William E. Finneran Pavilion (1986–2017, 2018–present) First Union Spectrum (alternate; 1967–2009) Wells Fargo Center (alternate; 1996–present)
Rivalries	Saint Joseph's
Culture & lore	Will D. Cat City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 (Robert V. Geasey Trophy) "V for Villanova"
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e Sports teams based in and around Philadelphia
Baseball	MLB Philadelphia Phillies IL Lehigh Valley IronPigs EL Reading Fightin Phils SAL Wilmington Blue Rocks MLBDL Trenton Thunder	80px 80px
Basketball	NBA Philadelphia 76ers G League Delaware Blue Coats
Esports	Overwatch League Philadelphia Fusion
Football	NFL Philadelphia Eagles USFL Philadelphia Stars
Hockey	NHL Philadelphia Flyers AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms ECHL Reading Royals EHL Philadelphia Little Flyers Philadelphia Junior Flyers Philadelphia Revolution
Rugby league	USARL Bucks County Sharks Delaware Black Foxes Philadelphia Fight
Roller derby	WFTDA Diamond State Roller Girls Lehigh Valley Roller Derby Philly Roller Derby
Soccer	MLS Philadelphia Union MLS Next Pro Philadelphia Union II NISA Philadelphia Fury (hiatus) USL2 Lehigh Valley United Ocean City Nor'easters Philadelphia Lone Star FC Reading United AC West Chester United SC NPSL Atlantic City FC Torch FC
Tennis	WTT Philadelphia Freedoms
Lacrosse	NLL Philadelphia Wings UWLX Philadelphia Force
Ultimate	AUDL Philadelphia Phoenix
College athletics (NCAA Div. I)	Delaware Blue Hens Drexel Dragons Lafayette Leopards La Salle Explorers Lehigh Mountain Hawks Penn Quakers Princeton Tigers Rider Broncs Saint Joseph's Hawks Temple Owls Villanova University Wildcats <templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles> See also: Philadelphia Big 5 and City 6
College athletics (NCAA Div. II)	Jefferson University Rams University of the Sciences Devils West Chester Golden Rams Wilmington Wildcats
Currently defunct teams	<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles> Further information: Template:Defunct Philadelphia sports teams
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles> Main article: Sports in Philadelphia