By AARON BRACY
Big 5 Season Preview Package Schedule
Monday, October 28
Villanova season preview story
Villanova season preview capsule
Villanova player spotlight: Eric Dixon
Villanova season preview podcast
Tuesday, October 29
Temple player spotlight: Steve Settle III
Wednesday, October 30
Saint Joseph’s season preview story
Saint Joseph’s season preview capsule
Saint Joseph’s player spotlight: Erik Reynolds II
Saint Joseph’s season preview podcast
Thursday, October 31
Penn player spotlight: Nick Spinoso
Friday, November 1
La Salle season preview capsule
La Salle player spotlight: Andrés Marrero
La Salle season preview podcast
Saturday, November 2
Drexel player spotlight: Kobe MaGee
Sunday, November 3
Big 5 Season Preview X Spaces
Sunday, November 3, 7-8 p.m.
Join me and the guys from Big 5 Pod, Jake Copestick and Kyle Morello, as we talk about everything Big 5 for 2024-25. Join in the conversation with comments and questions by joining by clicking on the link HERE.
—
This season marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Big 5 and the 69th season of competition between Philadelphia Division I schools in a tradition that is special and unique to this city. On November 23, 1954, the athletic directors of La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, and Villanova formed the Big 5. The first-ever Big 5 game was played on December 14, 1955, when St. Joe’s defeated Villanova at the Palestra.
Last season, in a move that was long overdue, Drexel was added to the Big 5. The schools also swapped the round-robin format for a pod system featuring three teams in each pod playing each other, with the winners meeting in a championship game that is the culmination of a Big 5 Classic tripleheader.
Last November, combining my passions for sportswriting and the Big 5, I launched Big5Hoops.com. This website is my second foray into dedicated coverage of the Big 5, and I am thrilled to be returning for another season of covering Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, and Villanova.
Above is a look at my planned Big 5 season preview package. I will share out my previews each morning at 7:00 a.m. on social media and will also link all content here at the Big 5 Season Preview Package Hub.
Three Requests
There is no cost to read these previews, and the site does not have ads or pop-up videos. However, I have put a lot of time and energy into these previews, as with the rest of the work for this site, and I would kindly ask that you do at least one of the following, though I’d be grateful for all three:
1) Follow me on social media and like and/or share my work to help to build my following. You can find me on social media by clicking HERE.
2) Purchase a copy of my book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks. You do not have to be a Saint Joseph’s fan or alum to enjoy this book, in my opinion. And if you’re really not interested, you could purchase a copy, or copies, for your local high school team or as a gift for someone else. The book will be available wherever books are sold beginning on March 1, 2025. You can also preorder a copy now by clicking HERE. (Read more about the book by clicking HERE.)
3) Continue to read, watch, and listen to my work. As mentioned, a lot of time and energy goes into the research, interviews, and writing of the articles or producing the podcasts. I am grateful to everyone who engages with my content. Please continue to do so. And thank you in advance! I really appreciate it.
—
2024-25 Schedule
The 2024-25 season kicks off on Monday, November 4. You can access the Big 5 composite schedule by clicking HERE. I look forward to seeing you all at a game this season!
—
Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.