Classic Photos of the Big East Tournament

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 8, 2011

Classic Photos of the Big East Tournament

Boston College vs. St. John's

Boston College head coach Gary Williams getting heated during the Big East championship game against St. John's in 1983. Michael Williams (23) and the Eagles lost 85-77.

St. John's vs. Boston College

St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca celebrates with Chris Mullin (20) and Billy Goodwin (35) after winning the Big East championship against Boston College. The 1983 Big East tourney was the first of many held at Madison Square Garden.

Georgetown vs. Syracuse

Georgetown center Patrick Ewing (33) wrestles for a rebound against Syracuse forward Andre Hawkins in the Big East finals. Ewing, the eventual MVP of the tourney, carried the Hoyas past the Orangemen in overtime, 82-71.

Seton Hall vs. Providence

Seton Hall's Andre McCloud successfully swats the ball from the fingertips of Otis Thorpe during a 1984 qualifying Big East tournament game.

Providence vs. Seton Hall

Otis Thorpe of Providence soars to grab a rebound over Andre McCloud of Seton Hall during a qualifying game for the 1984 Big East tournament. Providence defeated Seton Hall and advanced.

Georgetown vs. Syracuse

Patrick Ewing (33) ferociously dunks over Syracuse's Rony Seikaly during the semifinals of the 1985 Big East tournament. Ewing would go on to win the tournament's Most Valuable Player award and would lead Georgetown to a Big East Championship and appearance in the NCAA tournament finals.

Villanova vs. St. John's

Villanova's Ed Pinckney (54) posts up St. John's Bill Wennington during an 89-74 loss. St. John's fell to Georgetown in the conference finals.

Pittsburgh Fans

A fan holds up a sign mocking a bribery allegation before a Pittsburgh-Villanova game on Feb. 7, 1986. Doug West, a highly-touted Villanova freshman, had alleged to a Louisville newspaper that a Pittsburgh booster had offered him money to play basketball for the Panthers.

St. John's

St. John's stars Willie Glass (30), Mark Jackson (13) and Walter Berry (21) hoist the trophy after their last-second, 70-69 victory over Syracuse to win the 1986 Big East tournament. The Red Storm would not win another Big East tournament until the 1999-2000 season.

Syracuse

Syracuse point guard Sherman Douglas proudly holds up the Most Valuable Player trophy after averaging 20 points in three games. The Orangemen beat Villanova 85-68 on March 13, 1988, to win the tourney.

Pittsburgh vs. Boston College

Pittsburgh forward Darren Morningstar attempts a dunk against Boston College's Reggie Pruitt in the opening round of the 1990 Big East tournament. Pittsburgh beat Boston College 88-70 but ended up losing in the next round.

Connecticut vs. Georgetown

Georgetown center Dikembe Mutombo towers over Connecticut defenders during a 65-60 loss to the Huskies.

Boston College vs. Villanova

Paul Grant of Boston College emphatically dunks as Villanova forward Kerry Kittles looks on. The Eagles won the opening-round game 74-70.

Miami and Seton Hall

Miami Hurricanes 7-foot-3-inch center Constantin Popa attempts to block Luther Wright of Seton Hall in t he Hurricanes 65-56 loss.

Providence College

Providence forward Eric Williams (55) and guard Rob Phelps (22) embrace after knocking off the top-seeded Connecticut Huskies in the semifinal round of the 1994 Big East tournament. The Friars beat UConn 69-67 and proceeded to win the entire tournament.

Villanova

Villanova guard and Big East Player of the Year Kerry Kittles soars past Connecticut's Travis Knight during a 96-73 win over the No. 1 ranked Huskies.

Syracuse

Walk-on and eventual NFL star quarterback Donavon McNabb warms up before a tournament game against Boston College on March 7, 1996. McNabb only played in five games in a season in which the Orangemen lost to Kentucky in the national championship game.

Georgetown vs. Villanova

Electric Georgetown guard Allen Iverson drives in a victory over Villanova.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame's Troy Murphy reacts after hitting a three-pointer in the Fighting Irish's 74-62 win over Rutgers. Murphy led the squad with 25 points and 14 boards.

West Virginia

West Virginia center Kevin Pittsnogle celebrates after hitting a three-pointer against Boston College during the second round of the Big East tournament. West Virginia won the game 78-72 and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament that year.

Syracuse

Gerry McNamara of Syracuse dons an "Overrated?!!" shirt after beating Pittsburgh in the Big East Championship on March 11, 2006. McNamara was named MVP of the tourney after a remarkable three-point shooting performance.

Connecticut vs. Syracuse

Marcus Williams of Connecticut rises for a jump shot during an 86-84 quarterfinal loss to Syracuse on March 9, 2006.

Georgetown Hoyas

Georgetown celebrates a 2007 Big East tournament win after knocking off Pittsburgh. The eventual Final Four team was led by defensive-stopper Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green, the Big East Player of the Year and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Villanova

Scottie Reynolds of Villanova heads to get treatment during an 82-63 loss to Georgetown in the 2008 tournament.

Syracuse

Coming off of a six-overtime game, Eric Devendorf (23) motivates Andy Rautins (1) late in a semifinal game against West Virginia. Syracuse would prevail in overtime again, 74-69.

West Virginia

Deniz Kilicli screams in triumph after West Virginia defeated Georgetown 60-58 in the Big East championship. The conference championship was a first for the Mountaineers and they proceeded to advance to the Final Four in the NCAA tourney.