SEC–Big East Challenge
| Conference | Big East Conference Southeastern Conference |
|---|---|
| League | NCAA Division I |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Ceased | 2012 |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Last champion(s) | Big East Conference |
| Most titles | Big East Conference (3) |
| Broadcaster(s) | ESPN |
The SEC–Big East Challenge was an in-season NCAA Division I men's college basketball series, matching up teams from the Southeastern Conference and the original Big East Conference. The event, which was held each season from 2007 to 2012, took place in early December each year, before the start of conference play.
The original six-year contract for the series expired in 2013 and was not renewed. This was likely an effect of the
2010–13 Big East Conference realignment, which resulted in the members of the original Big East splitting up into the football-sponsoring American Athletic Conference (marketed as "The American" and the legal successor to the original Big East) and a new, non-football Big East Conference in the summer of 2013.[1] The SEC proceeded to establish a new series with the Big 12 Conference called the Big 12/SEC Challenge.[2]
Format
Initially, each annual series included four games featuring four teams from each conference. The games were held as two double-headers in two different, typically off-campus, sites. Though most of the sites were not home arenas for the teams featured in the event, many were in the same cities as one of the participants.
Consol Energy Center
since it opened in 2010, where they played in the invitational in December of that year.
Starting with the 2011–12 season, the format was changed to allow every SEC team to participate along with an equal number of Big East teams. This format featured 12 games over three days beginning on the Thursday after Thanksgiving of each year. The locations of the games were also changed; they were played at home campus sites with each conference hosting six games a year.
For the 2012 challenge, the SEC's new members Missouri and Texas A&M did not participate, while the departure of West Virginia from the Big East before the 2012–2013 season meant that only three Big East teams were excluded instead of four.
Team records
In the inaugural series in 2007, the Big East won three games to the SEC's one. The two conferences tied, with each team winning two games, in 2008 and 2009. In the 2010 series, the SEC won for the first time, three games to one. In the 2011 series, the first year with 12 games, the Big East won eight games to four. In 2012, the Big East won nine games to three.
Southeastern Conference (15–25)
|
Big East Conference (25–15)
|
Results
2007 Big East 3-1
| Date | SEC team | Big East team | Location | Television | Attendance | Winner | Conference Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 5 | Alabama | #4 Georgetown | BJCC Arena (Birmingham, Alabama )
|
ESPN | Georgetown, 70–60[3] | Big East (1–0) | |
| Auburn | West Virginia | ESPN2 | 10,481 | West Virginia, 88–59[4] | Big East (2–0) | ||
| December 6 | South Carolina | Providence | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania )
|
ESPN2 | South Carolina, 68–67[5] | Big East (2–1) | |
LSU
|
#21 Villanova | ESPN | Villanova, 68–67[6] | Big East (3–1) |
2008 Tie 2-2
| Date | SEC team | Big East team | Location | Television | Attendance | Winner | Conference Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 16 | Vanderbilt | South Florida | Sommet Center (Nashville, Tennessee )
|
ESPN2 | Vanderbilt, 71–52[7] | SEC (1–0) | |
| #19 Tennessee | #23 Marquette | ESPN | Tennessee, 80–68[8] | SEC (2–0) | |||
| December 18 | Mississippi State | Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio )
|
ESPN2 | Cincinnati, 75–63[9] | SEC (2–1) | |
| Ole Miss | #9 Louisville | ESPN | 9,522 | Louisville, 77–68[10] | Tied (2–2) |
2009 Tie 2-2
| Date | SEC team | Big East team | Location | Television | Attendance | Winner | Conference Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 9 | Georgia
|
St. John's | Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) | ESPN2 | St. John's, 66–56[11] | Big East (1–0) | |
| #4 Kentucky | #12 Connecticut | ESPN | 15,874 | Kentucky, 64–61[12] | Tied (1–1) | ||
| December 10 | Mississippi State
|
DePaul | St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, Florida )
|
ESPN2 | Mississippi State, 76–45[13] | SEC (2–1) | |
| #11 Florida | #6 Syracuse | ESPN | 9,353 | Syracuse, 85–73[14] | Tied (2–2) |
2010 SEC 3-1
| Date | SEC team | Big East team | Location | Television | Attendance | Winner | Conference Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 8 | Arkansas | Seton Hall | Freedom Hall (Louisville, Kentucky) | ESPN2 | Arkansas, 71–62[15] | SEC (1–0) | |
| #16 Kentucky | #23 Notre Dame | ESPN | Kentucky, 72–58[16] | SEC (2–0) | |||
| December 11 | Auburn | Rutgers | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania )
|
ESPN2 | Rutgers, 63–54[17] | SEC (2–1) | |
| #13 Tennessee | #3 Pittsburgh | ESPN | 15,166 | Tennessee, 83–76 [18] | SEC (3–1) |
2011 Big East 8-4
| Date | Time | Big East team | SEC team | Location | Television | Attendance | Winner | Challenge Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs., Dec. 1 | 7:00 PM | Providence | South Carolina | Colonial Life Arena • Columbia, South Carolina | ESPNU | 7,476 | Providence, 76–67[19] | Big East (1–0) |
| 7:30 PM | St. John's | #1 Kentucky | Rupp Arena • Lexington, Kentucky | ESPN2 | 24,119 | Kentucky, 81–59[20] | Tie (1–1) | |
| 9:00 PM | DePaul | Ole Miss | Allstate Arena • Rosemont, Illinois | ESPNU | 7,129 | Ole Miss, 70–68[21] | SEC (2–1) | |
| 9:30 PM | Georgetown | #12 Alabama | Coleman Coliseum • Tuscaloosa, Alabama | ESPN2 | 15,383 | Georgetown, 57–55[22] | Tie (2–2) | |
| Fri., Dec. 2 | 7:00 PM | #3 Syracuse | #9 Florida | Carrier Dome • Syracuse, New York
|
ESPN | 24,459 | Syracuse, 72–68[23] | Big East (3–2) |
| 7:00 PM | Cincinnati | Georgia | Stegeman Coliseum • Athens, Georgia | ESPNU | 6,796 | Cincinnati, 57–51[24] | Big East (4–2) | |
| 9:00 PM | #6 Louisville | #19 Vanderbilt | KFC Yum! Center • Louisville, Kentucky | ESPN | 22,728 | Louisville, 62–60 OT[25] | Big East (5–2) | |
| 9:00 PM | Seton Hall | Auburn | Prudential Center • Newark, New Jersey | ESPNU | 6,591 | Seton Hall, 81–59[26] | Big East (6–2) | |
| Sat., Dec. 3 | 3:15 PM | #10 Connecticut | Arkansas | XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut
|
ESPN | 14,333 | Connecticut, 75–62[27] | Big East (7–2) |
| 5:15 PM | #17 Pittsburgh | Tennessee
|
Thompson–Boling Arena • Knoxville, Tennessee | ESPN | 17,249 | Pittsburgh, 61–56[28] | Big East (8–2) | |
| 7:00 PM | Rutgers | LSU
|
Piscataway, New Jersey
|
ESPNU | 5,534 | LSU, 55–50[29] | Big East (8–3) | |
| 9:00 PM | West Virginia | #21 Mississippi State
|
Humphrey Coliseum • Starkville, Mississippi | ESPNU | 7,529 | Mississippi State, 75–62 [30] | Big East (8–4) | |
| First year that the invitational featured 12 games – All times Eastern Notre Dame, Marquette, Villanova and South Florida did not participate for the Big East. | ||||||||
2012 Big East 9-3
| Date | Time | Big East Team | SEC Team | Location | Television | Attendance | Winner | Challenge Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs, Nov. 29 | 7:00 pm | Notre Dame | #8 Kentucky | Edmund P. Joyce Center • South Bend, Indiana
|
ESPN2 | 9,149 | Notre Dame, 64–50 | Big East (1–0) |
| 7:30 pm | St. John's | South Carolina | Carnesecca Arena • Queens, New York | ESPNU | 4,902 | St. John's, 89–65 | Big East (2–0) | |
| 9:00 pm | Marquette | #7 Florida | O'Connell Center • Gainesville, Florida | ESPN2 | 10,245 | Florida, 82–49 | Big East (2–1) | |
| 9:30 pm | Seton Hall | LSU | Pete Maravich Assembly Center • Baton Rouge, Louisiana | ESPNU | 7,295 | LSU, 72–67 | Tied (2–2) | |
| Fri, Nov. 30 | 6:30 pm | #20 Georgetown | Tennessee | Verizon Center • Washington, D.C. | ESPN | 13,656 | Georgetown, 37–36 | Big East (3–2) |
| 7:00 pm | South Florida | Georgia | USF Sun Dome • Tampa, Florida
|
ESPNU | 5,167 | South Florida, 64–53 | Big East (4–2) | |
| 8:30 pm | #6 Syracuse | Arkansas | Bud Walton Arena • Fayetteville, Arkansas | ESPN | 19,259 | Syracuse, 91–82 | Big East (5–2) | |
| 9:00 pm | DePaul | Auburn | Auburn Arena • Auburn, Alabama
|
ESPNU | 5,827 | DePaul, 80–76 | Big East (6–2) | |
| Sat, Dec. 1 | 12:00 pm | Providence | Mississippi State | Dunkin' Donuts Center • Providence, Rhode Island
|
ESPNU | 6,156 | Providence, 73–63 | Big East (7–2) |
| 2:00 pm | Rutgers | Ole Miss | Tad Smith Coliseum • University, Mississippi | ESPNU | 4,277 | Ole Miss, 80–67 | Big East (7–3) | |
| 3:00 pm | #17 Cincinnati | Alabama | Fifth Third Arena • Cincinnati | ESPN2 | 10,155 | Cincinnati, 58–56 | Big East (8–3) | |
| 5:00 pm | Villanova | Vanderbilt | Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tennessee | ESPN2 | 9,365 | Villanova, 62–52 | Big East (9–3) | |
| All times Eastern Rankings from November 26 AP Poll. #5 Louisville, Connecticut and Pittsburgh did not participate for the Big East, while Texas A&M and #16 Missouri did not participate for the SEC. | ||||||||
References
- ^ "SEC-Big East Challenge ends, commissioner says". USA Today.
- ^ "News Archives".
- ^ "Georgetown vs. Alabama - Game Recap - December 5, 2007 - ESPN". Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
- ^ "West Virginia vs. Auburn - Game Recap - December 5, 2007 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 13, 2007.
- ^ "South Carolina vs. Providence - Game Recap - December 6, 2007 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "LSU vs. Villanova - Game Recap - December 6, 2007 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "South Florida vs. Vanderbilt - Game Recap - December 16, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Marquette vs. Tennessee - Game Recap - December 16, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on May 5, 2010.
- ^ "Mississippi State vs. Cincinnati - Game Recap - December 18, 2008 - ESPN".[dead link]
- ^ "Ole Miss vs. Louisville - Game Recap - December 18, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Georgia vs. St. John's - Box Score - December 9, 2009 - ESPN".
- ^ "Kentucky vs. UConn - Game Preview - December 9, 2009 - ESPN".
- ^ "DePaul vs. Mississippi State - Game Recap - December 10, 2009 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 17, 2009.
- ^ "Syracuse vs. Florida - Game Recap - December 10, 2009 - ESPN". Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
- ^ "Seton Hall vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - December 8, 2010 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 13, 2010.
- ^ "Notre Dame vs. Kentucky - Game Recap - December 8, 2010 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 13, 2010.
- ^ "Auburn vs. Rutgers - Game Recap - December 11, 2010 - ESPN".[dead link]
- ^ "Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh - Game Recap - December 11, 2010 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 15, 2010.
- ^ "Providence vs. South Carolina - Box Score - December 1, 2011 - ESPN".
- ^ "St. John's vs. Kentucky - Box Score - December 1, 2011 - ESPN".
- ^ "Ole Miss vs. DePaul - Game Recap - December 1, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Georgetown vs. Alabama - Game Recap - December 1, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Florida vs. Syracuse - Game Recap - December 2, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Cincinnati vs. Georgia - Game Recap - December 2, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Vanderbilt vs. Louisville - Game Recap - December 2, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Auburn vs. Seton Hall - Game Recap - December 2, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Arkansas vs. UConn - Game Recap - December 3, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee - Game Recap - December 3, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 7, 2011.
- ^ "LSU vs. Rutgers - Game Recap - December 3, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on July 20, 2012.
- ^ "West Virginia vs. Mississippi State - Game Recap - December 3, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 7, 2011.