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BUTLER UNIVERSITY
Location: Indianapolis
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Navy and white
Enrollment: 4,667
Top academic programs: Business, education, visual and performing arts, communication/journalism, health professions
Recent conference affiliations: Horizon League (1993-2012), Atlantic 10 (2012-present)
Basketball arena: Hinkle Fieldhouse (10,000)
Basketball history: 11 NCAA tournament appearances; two Final Fours; 2010 and 2011 NCAA runner-up
Notable basketball alumni: Shelvin Mack, Gordon Hayward
Other top athletic programs: Men’s soccer, cross country
Other alums: Emmy Award winner George Daugherty, Indiana U.S. Senator Harry S. New, novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Baylor basketball coach Scott Drew, former NFL kicker Garo Yepremian
School profile: Only non-Catholic school in new Big East, a non-sectarian school founded by Christians in 1855. Biggest basketball claim to fame had been Hinkle Fieldhouse, classic 1920s-era gym featured in movie “Hoosiers.’’ But that was before underdog runs to NCAA finals in 2010 and 2011, Bulldogs missing 2010 title by inches when half-court buzzer-beater bounced off rim. -
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
Location: Omaha
Mascot: Bluejays
Colors: Blue and white
Enrollment: 7,730
Top academic programs*: Health professions, business, management, sciences, communication
Recent conference affiliations: Missouri Valley (1977-present)
Basketball arena: CenturyLink Center (17,000)
Basketball history: 17 NCAA tournament appearances
Notable basketball alumni: Kyle Korver, Kevin McKenna, Paul Silas, Rodney Buford
Other top athletic programs: Men’s soccer, volleyball, baseball
Other alums: Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson, astronaut Michael Anderson, TD Ameritrade founder J. Joseph Ricketts, Nebraska U.S. senator Roman Hruska, Nebraska women’s basketball coach Connie Yori
School profile: Jesuit fixture near downtown Omaha has grown up a lot in last two decades, regularly topping U.S. News list of top Midwest universities with strong, student-centered reputation. But move to the Big East — unfathomable just a few years ago — would be big step up in exposure and prestige. -
DePAUL UNIVERSITY
Location: Chicago
Mascot: Blue Demons
Colors: Royal blue and scarlet
Enrollment: 25,145
Top academic programs: Business, communications, liberal arts and sciences, social sciences, computer and information
Recent conference affiliations: Great Midwest Conference (1991-1995), Conference USA (1995-2005), Big East (2005-present)
Basketball arena: Allstate Arena (17,500)
Basketball highlights: 22 NCAA tournament appearances; two Final Four appearances
Notable basketball alumni: George Mikan, Mark Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Rod Strickland, Quentin Richardson
Other top athletic programs: Women’s basketball, softball
Other alums: Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, actor Karl Malden, McDonald’s President and CEO Jack Greenberg, actress Gillian Anderson, actor Harvey Korman and John C. Reilly
School profile: The nation’s largest Catholic university is set in the heart of Chicago, with campuses in Lincoln Park and the Loop. Has been living off its history when it comes to basketball. While regular tourney qualifier from 1976 to 1992, it has landed just two bids since. -
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Location: Washington, D.C.
Mascot: Hoyas
Colors: Blue and grey
Enrollment: 15,318
Top academic programs: Business, law, medicine, public policy
Recent conference affiliations: Founding member of Big East (1979)
Basketball arena: Verizon Center (20,600)
Basketball highlights: 28 NCAA tournament appearances; five Final Fours; 1984 NCAA champion
Notable basketball alumni: Allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo
Other top athletic programs: Cross country, track and field, sailing, rowing, lacrosse, soccer
Other alums: President Bill Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill, actor Bradley Cooper actor and director Carl Reiner, former general and CIA director David Petraeus, Fox news anchor Greta Van Susteren
School profile: Founded in 1798, Jesuit school’s location in nation’s capital helps it attract students drawn to politics, policy and power (only half are Catholic). Coach John Thompson built basketball powerhouse during 1980s, a legacy now continued by his son, John Thompson III. -
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
Location: Milwaukee
Mascot: Golden Eagles
Colors: Blue and Gold
Enrollment: 11,689
Top academic programs: Business, communications, engineering, health professions, social studies
Recent conference affiliations: Horizon (1988-1991), Great Midwest (1991-1995), Conference USA (1995-2005), Big East (2005-present)
Basketball arena: Bradley Center (18,850)
Basketball highlights: 30 NCAA tournament appearances; three Final Four appearances; 1977 NCAA champion 1977
Notable basketball alumni: Doc Rivers, Maurice Lucas, Dwyane Wade
Other top athletic programs: women’s basketball, men’s track
Other alums: Football coach George Allen, Olympic track gold medalist Ralph Metcalfe, actor Chris Farley, Texas Instruments co-founder Patrick E. Haggerty
School profile: Creighton’s big brother, a fellow Jesuit University in urban setting. Storied basketball program has seen recent revival, with a Final Four and two Sweet 16 appearances in last decade. Its 15,000 fans per game made it Big East attendance leader--a title it now yields to Creighton (17,000-plus). -
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
Location: Providence, R.I.
Mascot: Friars
Colors: Black and white
Enrollment: 3,518
Top academic programs: Business, social studies, biological sciences, education, English and literature
Recent conference affiliations: Founding member of Big East (1979)
Basketball arena: Dunkin’ Donuts Center (12,993)
Basketball highlights: 15 NCAA tournament appearances; two Final Fours
Notable basketball alumni: Lenny Wilkens (NBA coach), Jimmy Walker, John Thompson (Georgetown coach).
Other top athletic programs: Men’s and women’s hockey
Other alums: Connecticut U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley (not to be confused with his dad, DePaul alum Richard J. Daley)
School profile: Catholic university was co-founded in 1917 by order of Dominican friars, hence its sports teams’ nickname. Solid NCAA tourney history was highlighted by 1987 trip to Final Four under up-and-coming young coach Rick Pitino. -
ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
Location: New York, N.Y.
Mascot: Red Storm
Colors: Red and white
Enrollment: 21,354
Top academic programs: Business, communications, biological sciences, education, health professions
Recent conference affiliations: Founding member of Big East (1979)
Basketball arena: Madison Square Garden (19,979); Carnesecca Arena (6,008)
Basketball highlights: 28 NCAA tournament appearances; two Final Fours
Notable basketball alumni: Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, Metta World Peace (Ron Artest)
Other notable athletic programs: Soccer, baseball, fencing
Other alums: CIA director William J. Casey; New York governor Mario Cuomo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, coach and sports commentator Al McGuire, pro golfer Keegan Bradley, former pro baseball player Frank Viola
School profile: Founded in 1868, it’s big school in Big Apple, with main campus in Queens and others in Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island. Ranks seventh all-time in college basketball wins but has made only one tourney appearance in last decade. -
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
Location: South Orange, N.J.
Mascot: Pirates
Colors: Blue and white
Enrollment: 9,700
Top academic programs: Nursing, finance, biology, criminal justice, humanities
Recent conference affiliations: Founding member of Big East (1979)
Basketball arena: Prudential Center (18,500)
Basketball highlights: Nine NCAA tournament appearances; one Final Four
Notable men’s basketball alumni: Bob Davies, Terry Dehere
Other top athletic programs: Baseball, softball
Other famous alumni: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former baseball players Craig Biggio and Mo Vaughn, broadcasters Bob Ley, Dick Vitale and Bill Raftery, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg
School profile: Founded in 1856 by local archbishop, it’s the oldest diocesan university in country. While yet to hit double digits in NCAA bids, it enjoyed great five-year run of success under P.J. Carlesimo beginning in 1989, including four Big East titles and overtime loss to Michigan in 1989 NCAA final. -
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
Location: Villanova, Penn.
Mascot: Will D. Cat
Colors: Blue and White
Enrollment: 6,240
Top academic programs: Business, engineering, health professions, social sciences, communications
Recent conference affiliations: Atlantic 10 (1975-80); Big East (1980-present)
Basketball arena: Wells Fargo Center (20,328); The Pavilion (6,500)
Basketball highlights: 32 NCAA tournament appearances; four Final Fours; 1985 NCAA champion
Notable men’s basketball alumni: Kerry Kittles, Ed Pinckney
Other notable athletic programs: Lacrosse, cross country, track and field
Other alums: Singer Jim Croce, astronomer Edward Guinan, Second Lady of the U.S. Jill Biden, pro football hall of famer Howie Long, track coach Jumbo Elliott (not to be confused with the former pro football player)
School profile: Founded by Augustinian order in 1842 in upscale Philadelphia suburb. No Big East school can claim more sustained hoops success, a regular tourney qualifier for half century. Pulled one of biggest stunners in Final Four history, No. 8 seed playing near-perfect game to beat Ewing and defending champ Georgetown in ’85 final. -
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
Location: Cincinnati
Mascot: Musketeers
Colors: White and gold
Enrollment: 6,945
Top academic programs: Business, liberal arts, social sciences, health professions, biological sciences.
Recent conference affiliations: Horizon League (1979-1995); Atlantic 10 (1995-present)
Basketball arena: Cintas Center (10,250)
Basketball highlights: 23 NCAA tournament appearances
Notable men’s basketball alumni: David West, Byron Larkin
Other top athletic programs: Women’s basketball
Other alums: House of Representatives speaker John Boehner, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Jim Bunning
School profile: Traces founding to when Ohio was part of Northwest Territory in 1831. Jesuit, mid-sized, urban, has much in common with Creighton. Also shares similar hoops history:frequent tourney qualifiers have never made a Final Four--the only schools in new Big East that haven’t.