Big 5 Basketball
The Philadelphia Big 5 is one of the most storied traditions in college basketball. It's a round-robin competition among five major Division I basketball programs in the Philadelphia area: La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. Since 1955, these schools have been playing each other in city series games, with the overall winner crowned Big 5 champion. The tradition has produced Hall of Fame players, legendary coaches, and some of the most intense rivalries you'll find in college sports.[1]
History
Origins
Philadelphia's basketball culture ran deep, and that's where the Big 5 came from:
- 1955 — Formal Big 5 competition established
- Origins — Schools already played each other informally
- Purpose — Promote Philadelphia basketball, share arena
- The Palestra — Penn's gym became Big 5's spiritual home
- City pride — Local bragging rights at stake
The schools didn't create something entirely new. They formalized what was already happening on city courts.
The Golden Era
From the 1950s through the 1980s, the Big 5 was king. This is when it all mattered most:
- National prominence — Multiple programs ranked nationally
- The Palestra — "The Cathedral of College Basketball"
- Doubleheaders — Two Big 5 games in one night
- Sellouts — Passionate crowds for every game
- Legends made — Gola, Erving, Ivey, Cheeks, others
You couldn't get a ticket to doubleheaders. Fans packed The Palestra shoulder to shoulder, and the noise was something else entirely.
Modern Era
Things shifted. Conference realignment changed everything:
- Conference realignment — Schools joined national conferences
- Scheduling conflicts — Harder to maintain round-robin
- Fewer Palestra games — Teams play in home arenas more
- 2018 — Formal Big 5 round-robin ended
- Tradition continues — Teams still play each other, less formally
The structure that held it together for decades just didn't work anymore. But the rivalry never truly died.
The Schools
La Salle University Explorers
- Location — Olney, Northwest Philadelphia
- Nickname — Explorers
- Arena — Tom Gola Arena
- Conference — Atlantic 10
- Glory years — 1950s-1980s
- Legend — Tom Gola (Hall of Famer, 1954 champion)
- Notable — 1954 NCAA champion
University of Pennsylvania Quakers
- Location — University City
- Nickname — Quakers
- Arena — The Palestra
- Conference — Ivy League
- Glory years — 1970s-80s under Chuck Daly
- Notable — Ivy League power, Palestra's home
Saint Joseph's University Hawks
- Location — Merion Station/Philadelphia
- Nickname — Hawks
- Arena — Hagan Arena
- Conference — Atlantic 10
- Glory years — 1960s, 2004
- Legend — Jameer Nelson (2004 Player of Year candidate)
- Notable — 2004 undefeated regular season (27-0)
Temple University Owls
- Location — North Philadelphia
- Nickname — Owls
- Arena — Liacouras Center
- Conference — American Athletic
- Glory years — 1980s-2000s under John Chaney
- Legend — John Chaney (Hall of Fame coach)
- Notable — Multiple Elite Eight appearances
Villanova University Wildcats
- Location — Villanova (Main Line)
- Nickname — Wildcats
- Arena — Finneran Pavilion
- Conference — Big East
- Glory years — 1985, 2016, 2018
- Legend — Jay Wright (Hall of Fame coach)
- Notable — 3 NCAA championships (1985, 2016, 2018)
Championships
Most Big 5 Titles
| School | Big 5 Titles |
|---|---|
| Temple | 28 |
| Villanova | 27 |
| Saint Joseph's | 19 |
| La Salle | 18 |
| Penn | 14 |
NCAA Championships
| School | NCAA Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Villanova | 3 | 1985, 2016, 2018 |
| La Salle | 1 | 1954 |
Legendary Players
Hall of Famers
| Player | School | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Gola | La Salle | 1954 champion, 4x All-American |
| Paul Arizin | Villanova | 1950 Player of Year, NBA star |
| Guy Rodgers | Temple | All-American, NBA assist leader |
| Cliff Anderson | Saint Joseph's | 3x All-Big 5 |
| Lionel Simmons | La Salle | 1990 Player of Year |
Other Legends
- Eddie Jones — Temple, NBA All-Star
- Kerry Kittles — Villanova, NBA star
- Jameer Nelson — Saint Joseph's, 2004 First-Team All-American
- Aaron McKie — Temple, NBA champion
- Howard Porter — Villanova, 1971 Final Four MOP
- Kyle Lowry — Villanova, NBA champion
- Jalen Brunson — Villanova, 2x champion
Every generation has had its stars. Some stayed local legends. Others went on to the NBA and became household names.
The Palestra
"The Cathedral of College Basketball"
The Palestra is the Big 5's spiritual home. There's nothing quite like it:
- Opened — 1927
- Capacity — 8,700
- Location — Penn's campus, University City
- Architecture — Historic, intimate design
- Atmosphere — Legendary acoustics, fans on top of court
- History — More college basketball games than any other venue
The place has character. You can feel it the moment you walk in.
Why It Matters
Walk into The Palestra and you understand why it works for college basketball. The crowd noise gets amplified in ways modern arenas can't replicate. Students and fans sit right on top of the court. There's an aura there that comes from decades of history. Big 5 doubleheaders weren't just games. They were events.
Rivalries
Villanova vs. Temple
This is the city's most intense basketball rivalry. It's got everything:
- Class dynamics — Main Line private vs. North Philly public
- Fan hostility — Genuine dislike
- Historical importance — Often for Big 5 title
- John Chaney vs. Rollie Massimino — Iconic coaching rivalry
The tension between these two programs goes beyond basketball. It's about neighborhoods, money, philosophy, everything.
Saint Joseph's vs. Villanova
Both Main Line neighbors. Both Catholic schools. "Holy War" is the term people use. Geographic proximity makes it personal, and they're not afraid to show it.
Penn vs. Everyone
Penn's the Ivy League school competing against basketball powerhouses. Different athletic philosophy. But they've got The Palestra, and that's home.
Legendary Coaches
| Coach | School | Era | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Chaney | Temple | 1982-2006 | Hall of Famer, 17 NCAA tournaments |
| Jay Wright | Villanova | 2001-2022 | 2 national titles, Hall of Famer |
| Jack Ramsay | Saint Joseph's | 1955-1966 | Later NBA champion coach |
| Chuck Daly | Penn | 1971-1977 | Later "Bad Boys" Pistons coach |
| Speedy Morris | La Salle | 1986-2001 | Revived program |
John Chaney's Legacy
Chaney was a Temple institution. Twenty-four seasons, and he won everywhere he went.
- Temple icon — 24 seasons
- Coaching style — Matchup zone defense
- Famous temper — Confrontations with Calipari, Massimino
- Working-class hero — Championed underdogs
- Hall of Fame — Inducted 2001
- Died — 2021
He wasn't just winning games. He was building something bigger.
Jay Wright's Dynasty
Wright came to Villanova and transformed the program. Championships in 2016 and 2018.
- Villanova icon — 21 seasons
- Championships — 2016, 2018 (back-to-back bid for 2020 lost to COVID)
- Coaching style — Unselfish basketball, player development
- Retired — 2022
- Hall of Fame — Inducted 2023
His players played the right way. That mattered to him as much as winning.
Cultural Significance
What Big 5 Represents
This isn't just about basketball. It never was:
- City pride — Philadelphia basketball excellence
- Accessibility — Local programs for local fans
- Tradition — 65+ years of competition
- Development — Players to NBA
- Community — Unites across neighborhoods
Five schools competing showed what Philadelphia basketball could be. Fans didn't have to travel far. They could see future NBA players right there in the city.
Challenges
But keeping it alive got harder. Conference realignment scattered the schools in different directions. Scheduling became a nightmare. Some games moved away from The Palestra. The formal round-robin ended after 2018. Maintaining tradition when everything else is pulling you apart. That's the real challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
See Also
References
- ↑ "Philadelphia Big 5". Philadelphia Big 5. Retrieved December 23, 2025