This wasn’t how it was to be played out. A full day of basketball would be cut short. Later, there would be more news. The Big East followed a number of conferences in cancelling their postseason tournament. The cancellation though, came about after St. John’s and Creighton played a half in Thursday’s quarterfinal opener. St. John’s led 38-35. At the break. Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman informed everyone the tournament was finished. Shortly after we were told the season was done, as the NCAA cancelled their tournaments.
For the record, St. John’s led 38-35 at the half. The game was not official so there are no changes to the teams’ final record nor the individual player statistics. The tempo free numbers saw a 37-possession pace for those twenty minutes. St. John’s held a slight 103-95 edge in offensive efficiency.
This was the 40th anniversary of the Big East Tournament, one Ackerman feels is the “greatest basketball tournament in the world.” Well, some might debate that point. No one, that includes our ‘debaters’ will argue the tournament has had its share of great games, iconic moments and all on the ‘big stage’ of Madison Square Garden.
Forty years gives us approximately 350 tournament games. A number of iconic moments. The not soon forgotten dramatic buzzer-beaters. A Syracuse-UConn game, in 2009, of 6 overtimes lasting until the next day, 1:20 am for those scoring at home. And now, agree or not, this twenty-minute game, or half game, is set to be remembered. Not for all things good. Regardless it will be etched in our hoop consciousness. On a day the conference followed suit and ended the tournament, St. John’s and top seed Creighton had tipped it off. The crowd was restricted to family of the players, game personnel and media. In the end there was a schedule of games to be played. The schedule was terminated for all the right reasons. Winning the game of health and safety is more important than getting a ‘W’ on the court.
Those twenty minutes, one half, will not go in the won-lost record books. A half game, in some circumstances, can per NCAA rules be considered official. This wasn’t, and neither of the respective coaches-Greg McDermott of Creighton not St. John’s’ Mike Anderson would want that kind of a win added to their record. Creighton wrapped up their season at 24-7, St.John’s at 17-15. Both teams were on a roll. Creighton defeated Seton Hall the final day of the season to force a three way tie with Villanova and Seton Hall. St. John’s had a convincing comeback win over Georgetown less than twenty four hours earlier. As of late St. John’s had been playing great. Creighton and St. John’s, as well as many programs across the nation, were sad to see the plug pulled on the campaign.
Thursday was a day we will all remember what we were doing, where we were when the news broke-the season was over. The one half on quarterfinal Thursday, the ‘game’ that didn’t count, no matter what you feel about it, is destined to go down in Big East history.
