clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

The New Big East Basketball Tournament Format: Can You Dig It?

Starting in 2013 there will be two play-in games on the Monday of Big East Tournament week.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Starting in 2013 there will be two play-in games on the Monday of Big East Tournament week. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Getty Images

During its annual spring meetings, the Big East announced that the format for the 2013-14 Men's Basketball Tournament will change. So as to allow all 18 member schools to play in the Tournament, the Tournament will expand to include two play-in games on the Monday of Tournament week that will feature seeds 15-18 at a venue that may or not be Madison Square Garden depending on whether the Garden is available.

In addition, rather than continue the current format of the "double-bye", the top four seeds in the 18-field event will play the bottom four seeds on Tuesday, with the remaining 8 teams to play on Wednesday. Essentially, rather than giving the top 4 seeds a bye into Thursday as the Tournament currently does now, the top 4 seeds will play Tuesday, rest Wednesday and then play Thursday through Saturday in the quarterfinals, semifinals and Championship.

Thoughts?