Saint Joseph's celebrates its victory in the inaugural Big 5 Classic at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2023. (Photo: Wells Fargo Center)
By AARON BRACY
September 23, 2024
The Big 5 Classic got another boost with Monday’s announcement that the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association is the title sponsor in a three-year deal that follows the news in June that the event will remain at the Wells Fargo Center at least through 2026. The WFC hosted the first-ever one-day, winner-take-all Big 5 tripleheader last season.
Now known as the Toyota Big 5 Classic, the second annual men’s event will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, with a tripleheader featuring all six Big 5 teams – Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova. Toyota also signed on as the sponsor for the first-ever women’s event, to be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Villanova. Officials also announced that tickets for the event are now on sale HERE.
In light of Monday’s announcement, Big5Hoops.com is kicking off a five-part series today on the Big 5 that features the following:
–Today: A look back at the inaugural Big 5 Classic last season
–Tuesday: Toyota’s Paul Muller on why the event is a good fit
–Wednesday: Wells Fargo Center’s Mike Sulkes on expectations for this year’s event
–Thursday: A close look at the matchups this year
–Friday: Big 5 mailbag
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On November 30, 2022, Temple, La Salle, Penn and Saint Joseph’s got together for a classic Big 5 doubleheader at the Palestra like days of old. Except there was no buzz. Little interest. And little attendance. An announced crowd of 3,246 watched the Hawks top the Quakers 85-80 in the nightcap after the Owls downed the Explorers 67-51 in the opener.
The historic organization was formed on November 23, 1954 by the athletic directors of La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, and Villanova. The unique collection of five Philadelphia Division I schools playing a yearly round-robin series quickly became one of the best traditions in college basketball. Saturday night doubleheaders at the Palestra were sold out and one of the toughest tickets in town.
Now, though, the Big 5 was on life support. There was little buzz and less interest, other than from the hard-core traditionalists.
Enter Wells Fargo Center and the inaugural Big 5 Classic.
The schools’ five athletic directors knew that change was needed if the Big 5 was going to stay afloat. They announced in April 2023 that Drexel would be joining the Big 5 and that the round-robin, or some form of it, would be scrapped for a pod system that would culminate with a one-day, tripleheader at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2023, with the top team in each pod meeting for a true championship game for the first time in Big 5 history.
It was a needed change. And, boy, did the inaugural Big 5 Classic deliver.
Here’s a look back at the three tripleheader games.
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Saint Joseph’s 74, Temple 65:
“That took me by surprise,” St. Joe’s coach Billy Lange told Big5Hoops.com of the banner. “I was like, ‘Yo, this is amazing!’ I’ve been in that building for some pretty cool moments. That was the best. I did not expect that. It was just amazing.”
The Hawks captured their first Big 5 title in 20 years with a convincing victory over Temple, ending with a banner with Saint Joseph’s name on it being raised to the Wells Fargo Center rafters, the brainchild of WFC GM Mike Sulkes.
“That took me by surprise,” St. Joe’s coach Billy Lange told Big5Hoops.com of the banner. “I was like, ‘Yo, this is amazing!’ I’ve been in that building for some pretty cool moments. That was the best. I did not expect that. It was just amazing.”
The Hawks got a huge performance from 6-foot-9 sophomore Rasheer Fleming. The Camden, New Jersey, native filled up the box score in a big way: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists, 8 of 11 field goals, 4 of 4 free throws. In recognition of Fleming’s outstanding performance, media members voted him as the winner of the inaugural Jack Scheuer “VGH” (Very Good Hoops) Award in honor of the longtime Associated Press sportswriter and Big 5 Hall of Famer. (See full “VGH” voting results at the bottom of this story.)
“All my teammates trust me in practice to make shots,” Fleming said after setting career highs for points and field goals. “I just thank my teammates for giving me the chance.”
“Nonstop fight,” the Hawks’ leader, Erik Reynolds II, said of Fleming. “That’s who Rasheer is. I’m not surprised at all.”
“He’s just a steadfast, faithful, loyal person,” Lange said. “When you have to lead something, you have so many things running through your mind. If you know when you show up that someone is going to be the same person every day, it’s a relief. He’s the same person every day.”
It was quite a night for Lange and the Hawks.
“Any given year, winning any championship is very challenging because everybody is trying to get it,” he said. “To win the Big 5 inaugural actual championship game, thinking about what the shared experience will mean to our guys when they think about sitting on that floor after and even what it means to our University, even for myself as a kid who grew up on Big 5 basketball. I was like, ‘This is good.’”
Saint Joseph’s fans cheer on the Hawks during the championship game against Temple in the inaugural Big 5 Classic on December 2, 2023. (Photo: Wells Fargo Center)
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THIRD-PLACE GAME: La Salle 93, Penn 92, OT
“It’s a testament to young people never saying never,” Explorers coach Fran Dunphy said. “Great play, great shot, maybe some fortune.”
In a memorable contest that was a classic Big 5 duel with a thrilling ending, La Salle and Penn closely tussled for 45 minutes, with Khalil Brantley stunning the crowd with an electrifying, game-winning half-court shot from 40 feet at the buzzer.
Penn’s Clark Slacjchert had put the Quakers ahead with four seconds remaining in overtime, matching his career high with 33 points, on a drive. Brantley hustled up the floor and got a shot off from just over the time line.
“I gotta do it for these guys, gotta figure something out and do it for my team,” Brantley said of the final shot.
He said he’s used to hitting buzzer-beaters after making four in high school. Confidence. Skill. And?
“With a little sprinkle of God,” he said.
“It’s a testament to young people never saying never,” Explorers coach Fran Dunphy said. “Great play, great shot, maybe some fortune.”
Even in defeat, Penn coach Steve Donahue appreciated the moment.
“Both teams played in the spirit of what the Big 5 is about,” he said. “Our kids gave it their all.”
La Salle’s Jhamir Brickus battles with Penn’s Andrew Laczkowski during the inaugural Big 5 Classic on December 2, 2023. (Photo: Wells Fargo Center)
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FIFTH-PLACE GAME: Drexel 57, No. 18 Villanova 55
“For starters, it validates our process,” Spiker told Big5Hoops.com. “It resonates with recruits. It was an awesome experience for everyone connected to our program, whether it was our fans, our alumni, our coaching staff, our players.”
Amari Williams had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks, Luke House scored 11 points and Drexel completed a shocking 0-3 Big 5 finish for cold-shooting Villanova with the victory.
The Wildcats shots just 18.5 percent (5 of 27) from 3-point range.
“For starters, it validates our process,” Spiker told Big5Hoops.com. “It resonates with recruits. It was an awesome experience for everyone connected to our program, whether it was our fans, our alumni, our coaching staff, our players.”
After being on the outside looking in for so long, Spiker is glad to be part of Philadelphia’s great basketball tradition.
“It connects us to the brand of Philadelphia basketball that we’ve unofficially been connected to for a long time,” he said. “But now it’s a done deal. It’s a part of our program. You walk down the hallway, we have a Big 5 logo. I think we belong as a basketball team.”
Spiker fielded countless phone calls, texts and emails from happy former players, alumni, fans and others congratulating the Dragons on their first-ever Big 5 victory.
“It was overwhelming the number of people that reached out,” he said. “It was a great feeling to know it meant so much to so many people.”
Drexel students celebrate during the Dragons’ victory over Villanova in the inaugural Big 5 Classic. (Photo: Wells Fargo Center)
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“The overall opinion from everyone involved was there was more discussion around Big 5 basketball than there has been in a long time,” Ash Puri, La Salle’s athletic director, told Big5Hoops.com. “There was more excitement from our fan bases across the board. I just think it was awesome.”
It was a day of three great games and helped to reinvigorate the Big 5 in a way that was badly needed.
“The overall opinion from everyone involved was there was more discussion around Big 5 basketball than there has been in a long time,” Ash Puri, La Salle’s athletic director, told Big5Hoops.com. “There was more excitement from our fan bases across the board. I just think it was awesome.”
On to 2024 and the second Big 5 Classic. Yes, please.
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-Coming tomorrow: Part 2 of our weeklong series features an interview with Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association president Paul Muller on why the company got involved with the Big 5 and how Toyota can help the event grow.
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Jack Scheuer VGH Award Voting Results
Big 5 Classic, Dec. 2, 2023
1. Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s, 93 points
2. Zion Stanford, Temple, 27 points
3. Khalil Brantley, La Salle, 26 points
T4. Xzayvier Brown, St. Joe’s; Lynn Greer III, St. Joe’s, 8 points
T6. Cameron Brown, St. Joe’s, Erik Reynolds II, St. Joe’s, Amari Williams, Drexel; Clark Slajchert, Penn, 4 points
T10. Jordan Riley, Temple; Luke House, Drexel, 3 points
Note: Five points were given to a first-place selection, three points for second and one point for third.
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We would like to thank the following Big 5 media members for their participation in the voting process.
Josh Abrams, Philadelphia Sports Digest
Aaron Bracy, Big5Hoops.Com
Matthew De George, Delaware County Times
John DiCarlo, OwlScoop.Com
Jordyn Erard-Coupé, PHLY Sports
Riley Frain, Mid-Major Madness
Mike Jensen, Retired (formerly Philadelphia Inquirer)
Ryan Mack, Temple News
David Malandra, SportsTalkPhilly.Com
Jeff Neiburg, Philadelphia Inquirer
Jason Nieves, Temple News
Glenn Papazian, PhillyCollegeSports.Com
Justin Procope, COBL
Joe Santoliquito, COBL
Mike Shute, PhillyMan Magazine
O.J. Spivey, Philadelphia Tribune
Jonathan Tannewald, Philadelphia Inquirer
Josh Verlin, COBL
Ryan Wallen, OwlsDaily.Com
Dan Wilson, 94.1 WIP
Johnny Zawislak, Temple News
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Author’s Note: This story has been updated following Monday’s announcement by Big 5 officials of Toyota as the title sponsor of the Big 5 Classic.
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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.