Big East Conference men’s basketball coaches expressed their frustration with the NCAA as the league only saw three teams make the tournament this year.
UConn, the defending national champions, were the No. 1 overall seed with Marquette and Creighton both earning spots in the field of 68. But as coaches like Rick Pitino, Kim English and others spoke out about the alleged snubs, the conference released a statement on the issue.
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The Big East Conference said it was “disappointed that some worthy” teams weren’t selected for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images/File)
“We have great respect for the NCAA men’s basketball committee and the time and effort that goes into selecting and seeding the teams for the NCAA tournament,” the conference said. “It is a very challenging job, and we have been advised that this year’s upsets added to the complexity and contributed to the committee’s final bracket selections.”
“Given the high level of play in our league, we are understandably very disappointed that some worthy Big East teams were not selected to participate. We will be working closely with our schools in the coming months to best position the Big East next year and to ensure that we continue to be represented in March Madness in a manner befitting our stature as one of the best conferences in college basketball.”
Providence head coach Kim English signals to his players during the game against Villanova at Wells Fargo Center on February 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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A handful of stunning conference tournament champions made their way into the field, forcing the selection committee to give at-large bids to schools that may have been favorites to win their conference titles.
N.C. State shocked North Carolina to win the ACC Championship, while UAB won the American Athletic Conference over Temple. It meant Florida Atlantic getting an at-large bid.
Those were just a few of the teams that played a role in keeping some of the Big East schools out.
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino looks on during the game against Creighton at Madison Square Garden on February 25, 2024, in New York City. (Porter Binks/Getty Images)
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Seton Hall, Providence, Xavier and Butler will play in the NIT.
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