2012–13 Big East Conference men's basketball season

The 2012–13 Big East Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2012 and ended with the 2013 Big East men's basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden March 12–16, 2013 in Manhattan, New York. The regular season began in November, with the conference schedule starting on December 31, 2012. 2012-13 marked the 34th year of the Big East, and the 2013 men's basketball Championship marked the 31st anniversary of the Big East at Madison Square Garden, the longest-running conference tournament at one venue in the country. With West Virginia now in the Big 12, the 2012-13 Big East Conference schedule included 4 repeat games.

UConn was ineligible for postseason tournament participation due to low APR scores, The Huskies were also ineligible for the 2013 Big East tournament; the school unsuccessfully appealed the ruling.

The 2012–13 season was the last for the Big East in its original form. In December 2012, the seven Big East schools that do not sponsor Division I FBS football—DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova, collectively called the "Catholic 7"—announced they would leave the Big East to start a new conference of their own.It’s Official: An Exodus Will Redraw the Big East, accessed December 16, 2012 On March 8, 2013, the "Catholic 7" and the remaining Big East schools announced a separation agreement. Under the agreement, the "Catholic 7" purchased the Big East name and the contract with Madison Square Garden for the conference tournament, and began operating under the Big East name beginning on July 1, 2013. The remaining schools, which kept the charter of the original Big East, announced on April 3 that they would operate as the American Athletic Conference (American), now known as the American Conference. This was also the final season for Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse, all of which left for the ACC on July 1, 2013. On the same day, SMU, UCF, Memphis, Houston, and Temple became full members of The American.

Preseason

Coaching changes Jim Calhoun of Connecticut announced his retirement on September 13, 2012. Kevin Ollie, an assistant under Calhoun for the previous two years, was named Calhoun's successor.

Predicted Big East results At Big East media day on October 17, the conference released their predictions for standings and All-Big East teams.

Big East CoachesBig East Writers T-1. Louisville (14) Louisville (15) 2 Syracuse Syracuse 3. Notre Dame (1) Notre Dame 4. Cincinnati Cincinnati 5. Georgetown Pittsburgh 6. Pittsburgh Georgetown 7. Marquette Marquette 8. South Florida South Florida 9. Connecticut Connecticut 10. St. John's St. John's 11. Rutgers Rutgers 12. Villanova Villanova 13. DePaul Providence 14. Seton Hall Seton Hall 15. Providence DePaul first place votes

2012-13 Preseason All-Big East Teams

First Team Second Team Honorable MentionSean Kilpatrick, G., CINOtto Porter, G., GTWNGorgui Dieng, C., LOUJack Cooley, F., NDVincent Council, G., PROVShabazz Napier, G., UCONNCleveland Melvin, F., DEPD'Angelo Harrison, G., STJAnthony Collins, G., USFBrandon Triche, G., SYRChane Behanan, F., LOUJerian Grant, G., NDTray Woodall, G., PITTC. J. Fair, F., SYR

Big East Preseason Player of the Year: Peyton Siva, Louisville Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year: Steven Adams, Pittsburgh

Preseason Watchlists Naismith John Wooden Award Chane Behanan, LOUMichael Carter-Williams, SYRJack Cooley, NDGorgui Dieng, LOUSean Kilpatrick, CINOtto Porter, GTWNPeyton Siva, LOUChane Behanan, F., LOUJack Cooley, F., NDVincent Council, G., PROVGorgui Dieng, C., LOUSean Kilpatrick, G., CINOtto Porter, F., GTWNPeyton Siva, G., LOU

Regular season

Head coaches Mick Cronin, Cincinnati Kevin Ollie, Connecticut Oliver Purnell, DePaul John Thompson III, Georgetown Rick Pitino, Louisville Buzz Williams, Marquette Mike Brey, Notre Dame Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh Ed Cooley, Providence Mike Rice, Rutgers Steve Lavin, St. John's Kevin Willard, Seton Hall Stan Heath, South Florida Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Jay Wright, Villanova

Composite matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play. (x) indicates games scheduled this season.   CincinnatiConnecticutDePaulGeorgetownLouisvilleMarquetteNotre DamePittsburghProvidenceRutgersSt. John'sSeton HallSouth FloridaSyracuseVillanovavs. Cincinnati – 1–10–11–01–00–12–01–11–00–21–00–10-1 1–00–1vs. Connecticut1–1 – 0–21–01–01–00–11–00–20–11–00–1)1–10–11–0vs. DePaul1–02–0 – 1–01–01–02–02–00–10–12–01–01–01–01–0vs. Georgetown0–1 0–1 0–1 – 0–11–10–11–00–10–20–20–11–00–21–0vs. Louisville0–10–10–11–0 – 0–12–0 0–10–10–10–10–20–21–11–0vs. Marquette1–00–10–11–11–0 – 0–10–20–10–10–10–20–20–11–0vs. Notre Dame0–21–00–21–01–1 1–0 – 0–11–00–11–10–10–11–00–1vs. Pittsburgh1–10–10–20–11–02–01–0 – 0–11–00–10–10–10–10–2vs. Providence0–12–01–01–01–01–00–11–0 – 0–10–10–20–12–00–2vs. Rutgers2–01–01–02–01–01–01–00–11–0 – 1–10–20–11–01–0vs. St. John's0–10–10–22–01–01–01–11–01–01–1 – 0–10–11–01–0vs. Seton Hall1–01–00–11–02–02–01–01–02–02–01–0 – 0–11–00–1vs. South Florida1-0 1–10–10–12–02–01–01–01–01–01–01–0 – 1–02–0vs. Syracuse0–11–00–12–01–11–00–11–00–20–10–10–10–1 – 1–1vs. Villanova1–00–10–10–10–10–11–02–02–00–10–11–00–21–1 –Total 9–9 10–8 2–16 14-4 14–4 14–4 11–7 12–6 9–9 5–13 8–10 3–15 3–15 11–7 10–8 As of completion of games on March 6th

Rankings

+ Legend     Improvement in ranking.   Drop in ranking. RV Received votes, but were not ranked. AP AP Poll C ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

+ 2012–13 Big East Conference Weekly Rankings Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 Wk 17 Wk 18 FINAL Cincinnati AP 24 24 22 17 11 11 11 8 14 21 RV 21 24 17 RV RV C RV 24 20 16 12 12 11 8 15 20 24 20 23 17 RV RV Connecticut AP 23 21 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV C RV 23 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV DePaul AP C Georgetown AP RV 20 15 15 15 15 15 19 RV RV RV 20 15 11 7 5 (2) 5 (2) 8 C 25 23 21 21 18 16 22 RV RV RV 21 15 11 8 5 5 8 Louisville AP 2(20) 2 (18) 2 (19) 5 5 6 5 4 4 3 1 (36) 5 12 11 12 10 10 8 8 2 (20) C 2 (5) 2 (4) 2 (5) 6 6 6 4 3 4 4 1 (18) 5 13 12 12 10 9 6 (1) 6 (1) 2 (1) Marquette AP RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV 25 24 18 17 22 15 15 15 C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV 20 20 22 17 17 16 Notre Dame AP 22 20 RV RV 22 22 22 21 21 17 20 24 RV 25 21 25 21 24 24 23 C 23 21 RV RV 25 24 22 20 19 16 20 23 RV RV 21 25 20 24 24 RV Pittsburgh AP RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 24 RV RV RV RV 23 16 20 23 20 22 20 C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 22 RV RV RV 25 17 22 RV 22 22 22 Providence AP C Rutgers AP C St. John's AP C Seton Hall AP C South Florida AP C Syracuse AP 9 8 6 6 4 4 3 9 7 7 6 3 (8) 6 9 6 8 12 17 17 16 C 9 8 6 5 4 4 3 7 7 7 6 4 (2) 6 9 7 8 12 16 16 18 Villanova AP C

Weekly honors Throughout the conference regular season, the Big East names a player of the week and rookie of the week each Monday.

Week Player of the week Rookie of the week November 19, 2012 Shabazz Napier, G, Connecticut Ryan Arcidiacono, G, Villanova November 26, 2012 Sean Kilpatrick, G, Cincinnati JaKarr Sampson, F, St. John's December 3, 2012 James Southerland, G, Syracuse James Robinson, G, Pittsburgh December 10, 2012 Fuquan Edwin, G, Seton Hall JaKarr Sampson, F, St. John's December 17, 2012 Chane Behanan, F, Louisville JaKarr Sampson, F, St. John's December 23, 2012 Victor Rudd, F, South Florida Omar Calhoun, G, Connecticut December 31, 2012 Russ Smith, G, Louisville Ryan Arcidiacono, G, Villanova January 7, 2013 Brandon Triche, G, Syracuse Ryan Arcidiacono, G, Villanova January 14, 2013 January 21, 2013 January 28, 2013 February 4, 2013 February 11, 2013 February 18, 2013 February 25, 2013 March 3, 2013

Postseason

Big East tournament

March 12–16, 2013– Big East Conference Basketball Tournament, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NY.

2013 Big East men's basketball tournament seeds and results Seed School Conf. Over. Tiebreaker First RoundMarch 12 Second RoundMarch 13 QuarterfinalsMarch 14 SemifinalsMarch 15 ChampionshipMarch 161. Georgetown† 14–4 24–5 2-1 vs. LOU and MARQ Bye Bye vs. Cincinnati W 43–62 vs. Syracuse L 58–55 2. Louisville† 14–4 26–5 1-1 vs. GTWN and MARQ Bye Bye vs Villanova W 74–55 vs Notre Dame W 69–57 vs Syracuse W 78–613. Marquette† 14–4 23–7 1-2 vs. GTWN and LOU Bye Bye vs Notre Dame L 73–65 4. Pittsburgh† 12–6 24–7 Bye Bye vs Syracuse L 59–62 5. Syracuse# 11–7 23–8 1-0 vs ND Bye vs Seton Hall W 75–63 vs Pittsburgh W 62–59 vs Georgetown W 58–55 vs Louisville L 61–786. Notre Dame# 11–7 23–8 0-1 vs SYR Bye vs Rutgers W 69–61 vs Marquette W 73–65 vs Louisville L 57–69 7. Villanova# 10–8 19–12 Bye vs St. John's W 66–53 vs Louisville L 55–74 8. Providence# 9-9 17–13 1-0 vs CIN Bye vs Cincinnati L 44–61 9. Cincinnati 9-9 21–10 0-1 vs. PROV Bye vs Providence W 61–44 vs Georgetown L 43–62 10. St. John's 8–10 16–14 Bye vs Villanova L 53–66 11. Rutgers 5–13 14–15 vs DePaul W 76–57 vs Notre Dame L 61–69 12. Seton Hall 3–15 14–17 vs South Florida W 46-42 OT vs Syracuse L 63–75 13. South Florida 3–15 12–18 vs Seton Hall L 42-46 OT 14. DePaul 2–16 11–20 vs Rutgers L 57–76 ‡ – Big East regular season champions, and tournament No. 1 seed.† – Received a double-bye in the conference tournament.# – Received a single-bye in the conference tournament.Overall records include all games played in the Big East tournament.Connecticut is ineligible due to Academic Progress Rate violations.

NCAA tournament

Seed Region School Second Round Third Round Sweet 16 Elite Eight Final Four Championship 1 Midwest Louisville#16 North Carolina A&T - Mar. 21, Lexington - W, 79–48#8 Colorado State - Mar. 23, Lexington - W, 82–56#12 Oregon - Mar. 29, Indianapolis - W, 77–69#2 Duke - Mar. 31, Indianapolis - W, 85–63#9 Wichita State - Apr. 6, Atlanta - W, 72–68#4 Michigan - Apr. 8, Atlanta - W, 82–76 2 South Georgetown#15 Florida Gulf Coast - Mar. 22, Philadelphia - L, 68–78 3 East Marquette#14 Davidson - Mar. 21, Lexington - W, 59–58#6 Butler - Mar. 23, Lexington - W, 74–72#2 Miami - Mar. 28, Washington, D.C. - W, 71–61#4 Syracuse - Mar. 30, Washington, D.C. - L, 39–55 4 East Syracuse#13 Montana - Mar. 21, San Jose - W, 81–34#12 California - Mar. 23, San Jose - W, 66–60#1 Indiana - Mar. 28, Washington, D.C. - W, 61–50#3 Marquette - Mar. 30, Washington, D.C. - W, 55–39#4 Michigan - Apr. 6, Atlanta - L, 56–61 7 West Notre Dame#10 Iowa State - Mar. 22, Dayton - L, 58–76 8 West Pittsburgh#9 Wichita State - Mar. 21, Salt Lake City - L, 55–73 9 South Villanova#8 North Carolina - Mar. 22, Kansas City - L, 71–78 10 Midwest Cincinnati#7 Creighton - Mar. 22, Philadelphia - L, 63–678 BidsW-L (%):3–5 3–0 3–0 2–1 1–1 TOTAL: 13–7

National Invitation tournament

Seed Bracket School First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals 4 Kentucky Providence#5 Charlotte - Mar. 20, Providence - W, 75–66#8 Robert Morris - Mar. 25, Providence - W, 77–68#2 Baylor - Mar. 27, Waco - L, 68–79 5 Virginia St. John's#4 St. Joseph's - Mar. 19, Philadelphia - W, 63–61#1 Virginia - Mar. 24, Charlottesville - L, 50–682 BidsW-L (%):2–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 TOTAL: 3–2

Awards and honors

Conference awards and teams The Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Scholar Athlete of the Year awards are announced, after the conclusion of the first session of the Big East tournament. The remainder of the individual awards are announced at the conclusion of the regular season.

2013 Big East Men's Basketball Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Player of the Year Otto Porter, GeorgetownCoach of the Year John Thompson III, GeorgetownDefensive Player of the Year Gorgui Dieng, LouisvilleRookie of the Year JaKarr Sampson, St. John'sScholar-Athlete of the Year Peyton Siva, LouisvilleMost Improved Player Kadeem Batts, Providence; Michael Carter-Williams, SyracuseSixth Man Award Davante Gardner, MarquetteSportsmanship Award Junior Cadougan, Marquette