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New Big 5 series announced, welcoming Drexel and tripleheader at Wells Fargo Center

04/11/2023, 12:45pm EDT
By Owen McCue

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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Since early December, news of potential restructuring of Philadelphia’s historic Division I men’s basketball rivalry has trickled out. 

By late January it was clear there would be a change coming to the Big 5.

Finally, on Tuesday, the new format for the city’s men’s hoops series was officially announced at the Wells Fargo Center.  The highlights are the addition of Drexel to the rivalry series and a new format that will conclude with a triple header at WFC on Dec. 2.

“This is a true celebration of Philadelphia college basketball,” said La Salle coach Fran Dunphy, who played at La Salle and coached at Penn and Temple before returning to his alma mater this past season. “A collaboration of local rivalries enhance the good of the game, a continuation of a remarkable tradition entering its 68th year. Unlike any city in the area Philadelphia is the best.”

Drexel ceremoniously became a part of the rivalry when Dunphy, “Mr. Big 5,” welcomed Drexel head coach Zach Spiker on stage with Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune, St. Joe’s head coach Billy Lange, Temple recently appointed head coach Adam Fisher and Penn assistant Nat Graham

Though they’ve been able to schedule the city’s other D1 hoops teams, the Dragons have long been the odd man out in the city’s rivalry.

“To get to the point that we are a member of the Big 5 in every existence is just so huge for our program,” Spiker said. “It’s great to recognize all the history that Drexel’s been a part of and get to do that now.”

Temple, St. Joe’s, La Salle, Villanova and Penn began playing the round robin rivalry series in 1955-56. Though it was temporarily ditched, the five schools renewed the rivalry in 1999-2000 and continued it consecutively, with the exception of the COVID shortened 2019-20 season.

Each team will only play three games now — one at their home arena, another on the road and one at Wells Fargo. The teams will be separated into two three-team pods for a home and away game. Pod 1 includes Temple, La Salle and Drexel. Pod 2 includes Villanova, St. Joe’s and Penn. 

The two first-place teams from each pod will play each other for the Big 5 championship, the second place teams will play for second and the third place teams will play for third during the Dec. 2 a triple header at the Wells Fargo Center, dubbed the Big 5 Classic.

“Young fans will develop an affinity for the game, dream of going to one of our schools and feel inspired,” said Comcast Spectator chairman Dan Hilferty, a St. Joe’s grad familiar with the city’s hoops history. “Longtime fans will see a nod to the past and an exciting way forward.”

“We plan to do the traditions of the Palestra proud, welcoming streamers, rollouts, bands, mascots, all the great moments and passionate fans that make this citywide rivalry so great,” said Valerie Camillo, President & CEO of Spectator Sports and Entertainment. 

Many longstanding Big 5 fans may be disappointed in the news that the teams will no longer all play each other each year and the Palestra, or the “Cathedral of College Hoops” will only host one Big 5 game each season.

However, recent history suggested there was need for change. Temple, La Salle, St. Joe’s and Penn were part of just the third Big 5 doubleheader at the Palestra this century on Nov. 30 and drew just a crowd of 3,246. 

The hope is that this new format and venue will reinvigorate the rivalry series. Dunphy noted it will continue to be a collaborative effort to make the changes effective.

“The reality is … we have a job to do,” Dunphy said. 

“We’ve gotta make Philadelphia basketball as good as it possibly can be.”

Hilferty also hinted about his hope for the Big 5 women’s series to follow in the footsteps of the men’s side though Drexel AD Maisha Kelly noted those details are still be discussed.


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