Mel Greenberg presents the inaugural Mel Greenberg MVP Award to Temple's Tiarra East. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
December 6, 2024
Temple coach Diane Richardson happily ambled into the media room at Villanova’s Pavilion, looked around at the crowded assembly of reporters, and was clearly impressed with the turnout for the first-ever Big 5 Women’s Classic.
“Wow, everyone’s here,” she said, before turning and asking. “Where’s Mel?”
Mel, of course, was there, just as he has been in this city’s women’s basketball circles for the last 50 years. Mel Greenberg has meant as much to the growth of the women’s game as any player or coach over that time. And that’s not hyperbole.
Long before Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and A’ja Wilson, Mel was there.
Before Dawn Staley, Mel was there.
Even before Geno Auriemma, Mel was there.
As you probably know, Greenberg founded the women’s basketball poll in the 1970’s while working at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he covered women’s basketball for decades. He continues to write passionately about the sport, both covering the local and national scene, on his website.
Everyone involved in women’s basketball recognizes and appreciates all that he has done for the sport. He is in more Hall of Fames than one can remember. There is an award handed out in his honor at the Final Four each year. But there wasn’t an award in his name in his hometown where he has had such a huge imprint on the sport.
So, it was fitting that the first Big 5 Women’s Classic not only included Mel’s presence but a present, of sorts, as Temple’s Tiarra East was named the inaugural Mel Greenberg MVP after scoring 26 points to lead the Owls to a 76-62 victory over Villanova on Friday night.
“Tremendous game, tremendous win,” Greenberg told East while presenting the plaque that will soon bear her name. “It’s been a long time since Temple won a Big 5 in the old system, and all that. It was just phenomenal today. Congratulations.”
East smiled widely, genuinely appreciative of the honor.
“It’s a really great accomplishment,” she said. “It really feels good.”
Then, East smiled broadly again as Greenberg, plaque in hand, posed with her.
Sometimes, you just know that something is just right. And this was one of those moments, both for East and Greenberg.
For Temple’s standout senior, she earned the media’s top vote with a sensational fourth quarter when the Owls pulled away. East scored 11 of her points in the final period and hit a pair of cold, dead-eye three-pointers with 4 ½ minutes remaining that left all but the final score in question.
“I believed in myself, (the coaches) believed in me, I let it go,” she said.
Those two shots were all part of East’s growing confidence.
“That was really a big thing for me,” East said. “Coach has been instilling confidence in me.”
Richardson was impressed.
“Phenomenal,” Temple’s coach said of East’s outing. “She is a very good basketball player, and we want her to do the things we know she can do. And she did that today. Whether it’s scoring, assists, or defense, she always comes to play.”
Yes, East showed up. And in a big way. Just as she’s done all season.
Yes, Mel showed up, too. And in a big way. Just as he’s done for more than 50 years.
One MVP was on the receiving end of an award on Friday night.
And another MVP on the presenting end of an award on Friday night.
It was a historic night for two MVP’s.
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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.