If you follow college basketball even in the slightest, chances are you are at least vaguely familiar with Big 5 basketball here in Philadelphia. The Big 5 is an informal organization of five Division I basketball programs, UPenn, Villanova, Temple, St. Joes, and La Salle, within Philadelphia (and, in the case of Villanova, in the nearby Main Line) .
Members of the Big 5 have been in the national spotlight for years, most recently with the Villanova Wildcats making a run deep into the NCAA Championship Tournament last spring. Just three years ago, St. Joes was in the national spotlight as Jameer Nelson and Delonte West (both of whom are playing significant roles in the NBA as we speak) lead St. Joes in an incredible run that landed the Hawks at the No. 1 ranking in America for a number weeks throughout the season. They too made a run into the NCAA Championship tournament, eventually losing in the Elite 8 to Oklahoma State. Throughout the 80's, 90's, and early into the new millenium, Temple was a staple in the tournament, reaching the Elite 8 in 2001 under former coach John Chaney and players such as Lynn Greer, Quincy Wadley, Kevin Lyde, and David Hawkins. They lost their Elite 8 matchup to Michigan State, who reached the Final Four for the fourth straight year.
Since its establishment in 1955, the Big 5 has been a series of rivalries where the teams' records were left at the door, and anything could happen. Arenas (most often, the Palestra) fill with spectators and the excitement is palpable. Tensions rise between fans who wander into opposing cheering sections. Nobody is safe from the harassment the student section hands out. The biggest rivals within the Big 5 are St. Joes vs. Villanova (a.k.a. the Holy War) and St. Joes and Temple (recently revived thanks to "Goongate").
Tomorrow marks another meeting between St. Joes and Temple, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Liacouras Center. St. Joes has had the recent advantage in the series, winning seven of the last eight meetings. However, as aforementioned, numbers get thrown out the window when these two teams meet. Temple (6-7, 0-1) is coming off a rough loss to A-10 favorite Xavier on Saturday and St. Joes (9-5, 2-0) is coming to the Liacouras Center on a three game winning streak.
As a student at Temple, I learned quickly that there is nothing about St. Joes that we don't hate. This rivalry is so embedded in the students and players that it can be elation after a win, or immense diappointment in a loss. Personally, I have been looking forward to this game for weeks. Every part of me wants Temple to stomp all over St. Joes so bad that their student section will leave early. I want a blow out. I want it to be over before halftime. I want to put in the scrubs, and still maintain the lead. I want Phil Martelli to kiss Dunphys feet. It's that bad. It's just like how much Eagles fans hate the Cowboys (or, as I like to refer to them, the Cowgirls).
Go Owls.