While the Big East Conference may no longer contain the many powerhouses it did at its peak, the Division I athletic league still carries dynamic programs with high talent in various sports including basketball, lacrosse, baseball and soccer among others. In its heyday, the conference was competitive in the football arena but most knew the league for its outstanding consistency on the collegiate hardwoods of America. Basketball powers including Georgetown, Louisville and St. John’s were steadily among the best in the nation on numerous occasions while top-level schools in Notre Dame, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Connecticut enjoyed widespread success on multiple levels as well.
From 1979 to 2013, the Big East Conference gave birth to some of the most recognizable figures in basketball such as legendary St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca, Georgetown great Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin and recent stars including Kemba Walker (formerly of UConn) and coaches Rick Pitino, now-retired Jim Calhoun and current Syracuse boss Jim Boeheim. Breaking up for the start of the 2013-2014 athletic season, the conference is now without some of its premier members. Notre Dame, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Louisville, UConn and Rutgers have all departed the once-dominant league, giving ESPN the opportunity to highlight its previous success.
As they continue the popular 30 for 30 series, ESPN Films will now take an in-depth look at a league that used to stand above its competition through a feature piece entitled ‘Requiem For The Big East.’ Created the same year ESPN was born, the Big East featured some of the most popular, talented and physical basketball players the sport has ever seen. Including highlights and stories from yesteryear, Award-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman focuses his story from the main perspective of Big East legends including Jim Boeheim, Rick Pitino, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin and many more.
“Having grown up on the East Coast, I’ve spent most of my life as a dedicated fan of the Big East and I, like so many others, was saddened by its split last year,” Ezra Edelman said. “In setting out to make a film about the league, I hoped to not simply tell a story about the rise of a great basketball conference but also understand and ultimately convey the causes of its fall.”
‘Requiem For The Big East’ will premiere on Sunday, March 16 at 9:00pm, ET following ESPN’s broadcast of Bracketology.
‘Requiem For The Big East: AIR DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO
DATE: Sunday, March 16
TIME: 9:00pm, ET
TV NETWORK: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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