Bye Bye Big East

The Notre Dame Basketball programs played their last games as members of the Big East conference last week. Social Foundations of Coaching student Tom VanSlochem comments.

On Friday night, the Fighting Irish fell to the Louisville Cardinals in the Big East Championship Semifinals. After the loss Mike Brey told the media, “I’m thrilled that we played in the semis in such a magical night here. It’s a little bit of unfinished business, but we’ll get over it quickly and get ready for next week.” Notre Dame started off the tournament with a great win over Rutgers and an upset of No. 12 Marquette in the quarterfinals. However, the Irish couldn’t get into a rhythm against Louisville – committing 16 turnovers and shooting 36.5 percent overall. While this was the third straight year Notre Dame has lost to Louisville in the Big East semifinals, it was their fourth straight semifinal appearance. The loss was also Notre Dame’s final game as a member of the Big East, with the team moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

"I can't say enough about the Big East. I don't think it's really hit me yet," Mike Brey said, following the game. "The Big East has kind of made me. I've always said I've been as proud of being a Big East guy as I am a Notre Dame guy. We'll miss that." Brey was not the only head coach who said a few words about the demise of the Big East. Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Rick Pitino (Louisville), and John Thompson III (Georgetown) also shared the sentiment that the end of the Big East was bittersweet. “It’s sad for me because I was there at the start [1979] when they put the league together,” said Boeheim. Thompson, longtime friend and rival of Boeheim, said, “Change is here. But the Big East is something that I know, that we know, and it’s going to be missed.”

The 2013 Big East Championship Tournament marks the end of the Big East as we know it. Next season, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse will join the ACC and the Catholic Seven – Georgetown, DePaul, Marquette, Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence, and St. John’s – will form a new conference under the Big East name. The remaining members of the current Big East are still trying to work out the details for the 2013-2014 season. Nevertheless, Irish fans should look forward to the upcoming season in the ACC with its high level of competition and exciting matchups.