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Jerardi: Villanova a fan of Big 5

AFTER VILLANOVA won its first national championship in 1985, the Big 5 changed. No sense in going back over the details or what or who was to blame, but City Series games moved from the Palestra to campus arenas. It was not the same.

Fans throw streamers during Saint Joseph's vs. Penn Big 5 game in January.
Fans throw streamers during Saint Joseph's vs. Penn Big 5 game in January.Read more(Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)

AFTER VILLANOVA won its first national championship in 1985, the Big 5 changed. No sense in going back over the details or what or who was to blame, but City Series games moved from the Palestra to campus arenas. It was not the same.

In case anybody is concerned about Villanova's future in the Big 5 now, don't be. The university, from coach Jay Wright to the administration, is committed.

"I would be surprised if Villanova either unilaterally, or tries to get other schools, to reduce its commitment," Big 5 executive director Steve Bilsky said. "Their leadership is not the same as it was in 1985. I have talked to Jay a lot over the last two years and athletic director Mark Jackson this year and if anything they want to strengthen the Big 5 rather than see it diminish or even die a slow death.

"Jay feels that a more vibrant Big 5 will aid recruiting by making local kids more likely to want to stay in Philly and compete in this unique competition, increase visibility locally, regionally and even nationally, make money and raise the bar of the competitive level of all Big 5 schools."

Dealing in reality, the first 30 years of the Big 5 were better than the last 30 years. The games are still fun, but the juice is no longer there. Conferences, television and money have changed so much in college basketball and the Big 5 is hardly immune.

Thankfully, that half round robin, which nobody liked, is a distant memory. But what of the future as the Big 5 is finishing off its 60th season with a special honor for some of the greatest teams in each school's history and the season awards during the annual banquet at the Palestra Monday night.

Is there a better way than the full round robin? Is a December tournament, with a finale at Wells Fargo Center and Drexel included, a good way forward, a way to get everybody's attention again, a way to create more interest?

The schools have been having discussions about the future for months. Nothing has been decided because it is complicated.

Wright's life changed last Monday night in Houston when Kris Jenkins hit that shot that will be replayed forever, but the 'Nova coach understands and believes in the Big 5.

"Jay is a bright, loyal, grounded person who knows that the Big 5 is important to many people, that no other city has anything like it, and is a Philly guy who grew up with the Big 5," Bilsky said. "At the same time, he has created a national program like no other city school that has won a national championship and has opportunities that the other schools don't presently have.

"With all that, in all my conversations with him he has never asked or suggested that Villanova be treated better or differently than the others. I think, though, the combination of his seniority and success, it would behoove everyone to listen intently to his ideas on how the Big 5 can achieve more ambitious goals."

To Bilsky's point, Villanova is the school that can sell out the Wells Fargo Center. It is the school that will attract national television interest for the upcoming season. It is different, but so are the others unique in their own way.

"Of course, the first priority for Villanova, and all the schools, is to their institution and their conference," Bilsky said. "But fortunately there has existed for 60 years in Philadelphia the feeling that the dedication to the Big 5 and commitment to school and conference are not mutually exclusive. That's why we're the only city that has been able to do this."

@DickJerardi