NEW YORK – (Staff Report from official News Release) – The 2022 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden marks the 40th Anniversary of the prestigious postseason championship being staged at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” The BIG EAST Tournament first took to the famed Madison Square Garden basketball court in 1983, making it the longest-running postseason championship at the same location in college basketball.
One of college basketball’s most treasured events, the BIG EAST Tournament, first signed an agreement to bring the annual postseason classic to The Garden on October 7, 1981. Led by tournament MVP Chris Mullin, St. John’s defeated #1 seed Boston College 85-77 to win the first BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden in ’83. That weekend set the tone with sellout crowds and alumni parties up and down the Northeast corridor which quickly became a staple to circle the dates on The Garden’s yearly sports calendar.
Countless tournament memories have been made throughout the years, including Walter Berry’s block on Dwayne “Pearl” Washington in 1986; Kemba Walker’s spectacular 130 points in five games during the 2011 Tournament; Allen Iverson vs. Ray Allen in the 1996 Championship game; Doug McDermott scoring 92 total points in Creighton’s first BIG EAST Tournament in 2014; and of course Syracuse and UConn scoring 244 points over the course of 3 hours and 46 minutes in six overtimes in a wild game that ended at 1:22 a.m. in 2009.
“This year’s competition will be a fierce as ever,” said BIG EAST Commissioner, Val Ackerman. “And, we know that an electric atmosphere and the unforgettable moments that have defined the BIG EAST tournament for decades will once again await our amazing fans.”
“The BIG EAST Tournament and Madison square Garden have been synonymous with one another for 40 years,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Marquee Events. “Since 1983, the tournament has become a staple on The Garden calendar and has provided millions of fans with thrilling long-lasting memories. College hoops junkies will once again rush through our turnstiles this week for another four days of scintillating college basketball.”
The BIG EAST and Madison Square Garden will welcome fans back to the tournament this week for the first time since 2020 when the COVID Pandemic brought an early halt to the postseason tournament. Quarterfinal doubleheaders will be played this afternoon and evening, March 10. The semifinal doubleheader will be held Friday, March 11, followed by the title game on Saturday evening, March 12.
The first three BIG EAST tournaments were held in Providence, Syracuse and Hartford, respectively.
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The athletic programs of BIG EAST institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 4,100 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 37 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.
