Joshua Bennett
The Big East Conference is an NCAA Division 1 conference that includes schools across the Northeast and Midwest. The conference has gone through a few iterations, but both the old and new versions have consisted mostly of Catholic colleges and universities. The seven non-FBS schools that split from the Big East Conference in 2012, referred to as the Catholic 7, were motivated by a desire to return to a strong, Northeast-based, basketball-focused conference. These schools included DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova. While the colleges and universities in the Big East Conference share a Catholic identity, there is also diversity within their traditions, with some founded and run by the Jesuit order, and others run by different religious orders or the Diocese of Newark.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of teams in the conference | 11 |
| Number of Catholic teams | 9 |
| Basketball focus | Yes |
| Football focus | No |
| Colleges founded and run by the Jesuit order | 4 |
| Colleges run by other religious orders or the Diocese of Newark | 7 |
| Example colleges | Villanova, Xavier, DePaul, Providence, Marquette, Georgetown |
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What You'll Learn
- Both the old and new Big East conferences consist of mostly Catholic colleges and universities
- The Catholic 7 universities separated from the Big East Conference in 2013
- Four colleges in the Big East were founded and are run by the Jesuit order
- The Big East is a NCAA Division 1 conference including schools across the Northeast and Midwest
- The Big East is a basketball-oriented conference
Both the old and new Big East conferences consist of mostly Catholic colleges and universities
The Big East Conference is an NCAA Division 1 conference that includes schools across the Northeast and Midwest of the United States. The conference has undergone a realignment, resulting in an "old" and "new" Big East Conference. Despite this change, both the old and new Big East conferences consist of mostly Catholic colleges and universities.
The old Big East Conference was considered one of the most dominant and competitive men's college basketball conferences in the sport. In 2012, the seven non-FBS schools of the old Big East Conference, consisting of DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova, voted to separate from the football-playing schools. These seven universities, referred to as the “Catholic 7”, had a common religious background and were motivated by a desire to return to a basketball-focused conference and secure a more lucrative television deal. They retained the Big East name, and their departure led to the formation of the new Big East Conference in 2013.
The new Big East Conference continues to consist of mostly Catholic colleges and universities. Four of the colleges in the current Big East are founded and run by the Jesuit order, while others are led by different religious orders or the Diocese of Newark. These colleges share Catholic values, as seen in their mission statements and the conduct of their student-athletes. The new Big East has been less popular than its predecessor, but it has still found success in basketball, with six teams in the 2018 tournament and Villanova winning the championship in 2016 and 2018.
While the colleges in the new Big East Conference share a Catholic tradition, they also exhibit diversity within their religious contexts. Their athletic programs provide a platform for these institutions to attract students and promote their missions and values. Overall, the Big East Conferences, both old and new, have been shaped by the Catholic identity of their member institutions.
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The Catholic 7 universities separated from the Big East Conference in 2013
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that competes in NCAA Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. It was formed in 1979 and underwent a complete realignment in 2013.
The Catholic 7 universities—DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova—separated from the Big East Conference in 2013. These seven universities were referred to as the "Catholic 7" due to their common religious background and the fact that they were all non-FBS schools. The separation was a result of tension between the football-sponsoring and non-football schools within the conference. The Catholic 7 universities wanted to return to a stronger focus on basketball and secure a better television deal than they could have received by remaining with the football schools.
The separation was officially confirmed on March 8, 2013, with the Catholic 7 universities announcing their intention to form their own league. They retained the Big East Conference name, logos, $10 million from the old conference's treasury, and the right to hold their Big East Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The new conference was expected to be an all-sports league with up to 12 members, including additional universities such as Butler, Creighton, and Xavier.
The Catholic 7 universities cited the desire to create a basketball-focused conference that aligned with their academic and athletic philosophies. They also emphasized the importance of athletics in the development of their students and the opportunity to attract students to their mission through participation in the new league. The separation was described as amicable and mutually beneficial, with both groups wishing each other success in their respective endeavours.
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Four colleges in the Big East were founded and are run by the Jesuit order
The Big East Conference is a NCAA Division 1 conference that includes schools across the Northeast and Midwest of the United States. The conference has historically been dominated by Catholic colleges and universities, with the "Catholic 7" universities leaving the old Big East conference to form the new one. Four colleges in the Big East were founded and are run by the Jesuit order: Xavier University, Georgetown University, DePaul University, and Marquette University.
Xavier University, a liberal arts institution in Cincinnati, Ohio, is dedicated to "educating each student intellectually, morally, and spiritually." The university has an acceptance rate of 85%. Georgetown University, a private research institution located in Washington, D.C., is one of the oldest Jesuit universities with a 12% acceptance rate. DePaul University, one of the largest Catholic universities, is located in Chicago, Illinois, and has a 70% acceptance rate. Marquette University, meanwhile, had over 200 students included in the Big East All-Academic Team for the 2023-2024 season.
While these four colleges are run by the Jesuit order, other colleges in the Big East are run by different religious orders or the Diocese of Newark. Despite this diversity, the colleges share consistent Catholic values, as seen in their mission statements and the conduct of their student-athletes. This common worldview is an important aspect of the Big East's identity, with athletics seen as a crucial part of the development of students at these Catholic institutions.
The Big East Conference has a strong basketball focus, with several colleges achieving notable success in this sport. For example, Villanova University won the Big East championship in 2021 and the three preceding years.
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The Big East is a NCAA Division 1 conference including schools across the Northeast and Midwest
The Big East Conference is an NCAA Division 1 conference that includes schools across the Northeast and Midwest of the United States. The conference has a rich history in college basketball and has been considered one of the most dominant and competitive men's college basketball conferences in the sport.
The Big East Conference was established in 1980 and underwent a significant realignment in 2013. This split was due to tension between football-sponsoring and non-football schools. The non-FBS schools, often referred to as the "Catholic 7," separated from the football-playing schools and formed the new Big East. These seven universities—DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova—are all Catholic institutions, and their common religious background played a role in their decision to create a new conference.
The current Big East Conference consists of 11 member schools, nine of which are private Catholic institutions. These Catholic universities include Villanova University, a private Catholic research college in Pennsylvania with a strong basketball tradition; DePaul University, one of the largest Catholic universities located in Chicago, Illinois; Georgetown University, a private Jesuit research institution in Washington, D.C.; Providence College, a private Catholic liberal arts college in Rhode Island; St. John's University, a private Roman Catholic institution in New York; and Seton Hall University. Xavier University, a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Cincinnati, Ohio, is also a Catholic university and a member of the Big East.
While the majority of the Big East Conference consists of Catholic colleges and universities, not all the institutions are Catholic. For example, Butler University and Creighton University are members of the Big East but are not Catholic institutions. The Big East Conference values athletic excellence and has a strong basketball focus, with many of its member schools excelling in this sport.
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The Big East is a basketball-oriented conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that includes schools across the Northeast and Midwest. It was founded in 1979 by Providence College basketball coach Dave Gavitt, who wanted to create an east coast basketball-centric conference. The core of the Big East was formed when Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, and Syracuse invited other colleges to join them in the conference.
The Big East has a history of success in basketball, with its teams making 18 Final Four appearances and winning 7 NCAA championships as of 2013. In 2011, the Big East set a record for the most teams sent to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship by a single conference, with eleven out of their sixteen teams qualifying.
The conference has undergone several realignments since its formation, with the most recent one occurring in 2013. In 2013, the Big East split into two conferences due to tensions between the football-sponsoring and non-football schools. The non-football playing schools, also known as the "Catholic 7," formed their own conference and purchased the Big East Conference name, logos, and rights to the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament. The remaining football-playing schools became the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the legal successor of the old Big East.
The current Big East is made up of strong college basketball schools that do not have a Division I FBS football team. While the conference has diversified beyond its Catholic roots, many of the colleges in the Big East today are still Catholic institutions, including DePaul University, St. John's University, Villanova University, and Providence College.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Big East Conference is a NCAA Division 1 conference that is made up of mostly Catholic colleges and universities. Nine of the eleven members of the Big East are private Catholic institutions.
The colleges that are part of the Big East Conference include Butler University, University of Connecticut (UConn), Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John's University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University, and Xavier University.
The "Catholic 7" refers to the seven non-FBS Catholic schools that separated from the Big East football-playing schools in 2012: DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova. These universities were motivated by a desire to return to a basketball-focused conference and secure a more lucrative television deal.
