The Big East said it is “very disappointed” by the historically low number of schools selected by the conference for the NCAA tournament, echoing widespread sentiment around the league that several teams were snubbed.
The Big East received just three tournament bids (its lowest total since 1993) on Sunday from the NCAA selection committee, which snubbed a trio of 20-win teams in St. John's, Seton Hall and Providence.
The league issued a lengthy statement Monday night, congratulating the three schools that were selected (UConn, Marquette and Creighton) while joining the chorus of criticism against the NCAA selection committee.
“We have great respect for the NCAA men's basketball committee and the time and effort that goes into selecting and seeding teams for the NCAA tournament,” the Big East said as part of its statement. “It is a very challenging job, and we have been informed that this year's surprises increased the complexity and contributed to the committee's final bracket selections. Given the high level of play in our league, we are understandably very disappointed that some Big East worthy teams were not selected to participate.
“We will work closely with our schools in the coming months to better position the Big East next year and to ensure we continue to be represented in March Madness in a manner befitting our stature as one of the top conferences in college basketball.”
St. John's coach Rick Pitino, who has been among the most outspoken critics of the Big East's lack of teams, took to social media to praise Seton Hall, which finished 20-12 overall and 13-7 in the league. The Pirates became the first team in Big East history to miss the NCAA Tournament after finishing at least five games above .500 in conference play.
“I believe in getting better, not bitter,” Pitino said Monday night on social media. “I totally believe that six Big East teams belonged in the field. I know our players along with Providence are totally disappointed with the decisions made. But to not have Seton Hall at 13-7 in BE playing with wins over top teams is totally mistaken!”
I believe in improving, not becoming bitter. I totally believe six Big East teams should be in the field. I know that our players along with Providence are totally disappointed with the decisions made. But not having Seton Hall at 13-7 in BE play with wins over the best teams…
-Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) March 18, 2024
Ironically, Pitino and the Red Storm may have prevented Seton Hall from reaching the NCAA tournament after beating the Pirates 91-72 last week in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.
Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway said Sunday he was “heartbroken for my team” and also questioned the lack of Big East representatives in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field.
“I still can't believe that only three teams made it to this conference,” he told reporters. “It's a shame and it's disrespectful at every level. It's disrespectful to the Big East and I think it's disrespectful to us. In any major conference in the country, you win 13 games and you're in. ” Which team won 13 games in a major conference that is not being held right now?
The selection committee said Sunday that Seton Hall was one of the first four teams excluded, along with Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and 28-win Indiana State.
NCAA selection committee chairman Charles McClelland said five bids were stolen during the conference tournaments, and one of them was going to Indiana State, which lost in the Missouri Valley tournament final to Drake .
Despite the snubs, all three Big East teams are highly seeded: defending national champion UConn is No. 1 overall, while Marquette is No. 2 and Creighton is No. 3.
“We are very proud that UConn earned the first overall seed in this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament after another tremendous season that included both the Big East regular season and tournament titles,” the league said in your statement. “Second-seeded Marquette and third-seeded Creighton give the Big East three of the tournament's top 10 spots, as many as any other league. We consider each of them legitimate finals contenders. Four berths and another Big East national crown on April 8.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
