Photo courtesy of Dave’s Joint.
By David Cordova
When thinking of college basketball on the Division I level, there is one city or area that has an aura for their teams that most can’t quantify. It’s something historical that can’t be touched or duplicated. That city is Philadelphia, where it is not only known for cheesesteaks, the R&B culture, the 76ers, State Property or even Meek Mill, but the historical conglomerate for the teams known as the Big 5.
Although there are six Division I teams that represent the area, it is a common moniker that many outside of Philly know these groups of teams by, even though they are also known as the City 6.
The six programs are Villanova (Big East), St. Joseph’s (Atlantic 10), La Salle (Atlantic 10), Penn (Ivy League), Temple (American Athletic Conference) and Drexel (Colonial Athletic Association).
All of them are powerhouses in their own right in their respective leagues and all have prestige when on the court. The city of Philadelphia has produced plenty of homegrown talent that has starred at each of these schools and has gone on to play professionally, including in the NBA.
In this year’s tournament, there has been some great moments. On Nov. 11th, in front of a sold-out Palestra crowd, Penn knocked off Villanova, then rated as the No. 21 team in the nation. On Nov. 29th, LaSalle and Temple squared off at the Liacouras Center, the Owls home court, the game would go to three overtimes before the home squad would go on to win, 106-99. On the same night at the Finneran Pavilion out in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the Wildcats, now rated at No. 18 in the nation, would lose once again lose to a Big 5 opponent, this time, St. Joseph’s, 78-65.
Those games would set the stage for the finale, which would be set on Saturday, Dec. 2nd, at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, the home of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, and also the second home of Villanova, of where they will have six games that they are slated to play this season. It’s a venue which seats over 21,000 spectators and if you put the right game in there, the fans will definitely pull up in droves.
On this date, fans of all six teams would definitely show up in droves to support their beloved programs. The unique thing that these fans would do for their teams, that you may not see anywhere else, is that for every first made basket that their team made, there would be streamers thrown on the court. It’s an amazing display of love that these fans show to their teams that can’t be quantified anywhere else.
First up on the menu in the 2 PM game was Drexel and Villanova, the teams that finished fifth and sixth place in the tournament. From the beginning, the Dragons were on their A-game, due to the great play of sophomore guard Justin Moore (seven points, four assists), senior forward Lamar Oden, Jr. (11 points) and senior forward Amari Williams (11 points, five blocks). Crucial plays were made on the floor and they stifled the Wildcats, holding them 5-fot-27 from three-point range and 20-for-61 throughout the game.
However, Villanova stayed in the game, as they got support from senior forward Eric Dixon (21 points), junior guard Jordan Longino (13 points, four rebounds) and graduate student and guard Hakim Hart (eight points & eight rebounds).
However, when playing a big opponent like the aforementioned Wildcats, it will take a near-perfect game to beat them. Throughout the final seconds, Villanova had the ball and there was one final play in which a player planned on going up for a shot, but Williams was there to get the crucial block, which would seal the deal, as the Dragons would end up winning, 57-55, and give their counterparts their third loss in Big 5 play.
Despite beating nationally-ranked opponents such as Memphis & North Carolina in the Battle 4 Atlantis event in the Bahamas just a week earlier, the Wildcats would not fare better against the local competition. For the Dragons, they seized the opportunity and made the most of the opportunity that they were given.
Next up on the schedule was the third & fourth place game between LaSalle and Penn. This would be a game of epic proportions as both teams had players that could score in bunches. The Explorers got big contributions from all five starters in junior guard Khalil Brantley (24 points, six rebounds), junior forward Daeshon Shepherd (!9 points, eight rebounds), senior guard Anwar Gill (13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists), senior guard Jhamir Brickus (10 points, six assists) and sophomore forward Rokas Jocius (10 points) and also a contribution off the bench from freshman forward Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi (10 points).
Penn countered with senior guard Clark Slajchert (33 points), freshman guard Tyler Perkins (20 points), junior forward Nick Spinoso (17 points, eight rebounds & eight assists) and senior guard Andrew Laczkowski (eight points).
Throughout the game, both teams battled back & fourth and went to overtime. However, in the extra session, it was more of the same. In the final seconds, what would happen would be legendary. Slajchert would drive to the basket and would score and the Quakers appeared to have the game sealed. But then Brantley had the ball and heaved a desperation heave, which hit the glass and would then go in. As a result, the Explorers would win the game, 93-92. This play would have the crowd in a frenzy and would end up on Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays later on.
After those heroics, it was time for the finale, the one that most of Philly was waiting for: the title game between Temple and St. Joseph’s. In a matchup of red, the squads from two different parts of Philadelphia, one from the North Side of the city and the other that is by the Main Line. One team goes by the Owls and the other the Hawks. It would be a lot of hooting and hollering in this game.
Throughout the game, both teams took shots and competed against each other. St. Joe’s had a solid offensive core of sophomore forward Rasheed Fleming (22 points, nine rebounds & four blocks), junior guard Lynn Greer III (14 points, six rebounds), junior guard Erik Reynolds II (11 points) and graduate student & guard Cameron Brown (11 points and six rebounds).
Temple countered with junior guard Jordan Riley (20 points & eight rebounds), freshman guard Zion Stanford (19 points & nine rebounds), junior guard Matteo Picarelli (11 points) and junior guard Hysier Miller (10 points & four assists).
Although it was a close game throughout, it would be the Hawks who definitely held it down, as they limited the Hawks to 7-for-26 from three-point range and 23-for-65 from the field. When all was said & done, St. Joe’s would wind up with a 74-65 victory and would be the inaugural champions of the Big 5 Classic.
On this date, something special happened in the City of Brotherly Love. Six of the finest Division I teams in the area brought the city together for something magical. College kids and spectators rejoiced or screamed no matter whether their team won or lost the game. In Philly, they ride or die for their teams. It’s a sacred tradition that can’t be duplicated. The banner of this year’s Big 5 Classic that bears the Hawks’ name now hangs in the rafters at the Wells Fargo Center. But next year, it will be back, even bigger and better. Who knows? Maybe St. Joe’s will repeat or one of the other five teams will be crowned champions. The result will be known in another twelve months.
Dave's JOINT 
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