1997 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
took place at Madison Square Garden
in New York City
. Its winner received the Big East Conference
's automatic bid
to the 1997 NCAA Tournament
. It is a single-elimination tournament
with four rounds and the three highest seeds received byes
in the first round. All 13 Big East teams were invited to participate. Boston College
and Villanova
finished with the best record in the regular season. After tie-breakers, Villanova was awarded the top seed.
Boston College defeated Villanova in the final, 70–58 to earn their first Big East Tournament championship. Future NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb
participated in the tournament as a reserve forward for Syracuse.
, Boston College
All-Tournament Team
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
took place at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Its winner received the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
's automatic bid
Automatic bid
Automatic bid is a term generally used to describe a bid or berth to a tournament, granted based on performance in prior competition, and not based on subjective picking...
to the 1997 NCAA Tournament
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. It is a single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
with four rounds and the three highest seeds received byes
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
in the first round. All 13 Big East teams were invited to participate. Boston College
Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
and Villanova
Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats is the name of the athletic teams of Villanova University. They compete in the Big East for every sport except football, where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association .-Men's basketball:The Villanova Wildcats compete in the Big EAST and are currently coached by Jay...
finished with the best record in the regular season. After tie-breakers, Villanova was awarded the top seed.
Boston College defeated Villanova in the final, 70–58 to earn their first Big East Tournament championship. Future NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
participated in the tournament as a reserve forward for Syracuse.
Bracket
Awards
Dave Gavitt Trophy (Most Outstanding Player): Scoonie PennScoonie Penn
James "Scoonie" Donell Penn is an American professional basketball player. He plays at the point guard position. His height is 5 ft 11 in and he weighs 180 pounds.-Amateur career:...
, Boston College
All-Tournament Team
- Danya AbramsDanya AbramsDanya Abrams is a former college basketball player who played for the Boston College Eagles. He is from Greenburgh, New York. He starred with the Eagles from 1993–97, getting selected first-team all Big East Conference three times...
, Boston College - Victor PageVictor PageVictor Page is a basketball player who once played for the Georgetown University Hoyas and Sioux Falls Skyforce; he is also notorious for his troubles with self-control and with D.C. street life.-Early years:...
, Georgetown - Scoonie Penn, Boston College
- Tim ThomasTim Thomas (basketball)Timothy Mark "Tim" Thomas is an American professional basketball player, in the small forward position.-High school / College:...
, Villanova - Alvin WilliamsAlvin WilliamsAlvin Leon Williams is a retired American professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association, and current Director of Player Development of the Toronto Raptors.-Basketball career:...
, Villanova - Duane Woodward, Boston College