BIG EAST Honors Black Fives Era
During the month of February, the BIG EAST Conference will celebrate Black History Month by partnering with the Black Fives Foundation, a nonprofit public charity whose mission is to research, preserve, showcase, teach, and honor the pre-NBA history of African Americans in basketball, to host 22 games honoring black athletes, coaches, and communities who played a critical part in the America's basketball history.
Prior to the integration of the National Basketball Association in 1950, a nationwide-barnstorming circuit was created of independent African American teams. This era, which ran from the early 1900s to 1950, became known as the "Black Fives" Era, referring to the five starting players on a basketball team whose skill, athleticism, and innovative style of play helped shaped and popularize the game.
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For 22 games, the BIG EAST Men's and Women's Basketball Teams will be wearing the name and logo of a Black Fives Team to honor these pioneers. Below are the BIG EAST member schools, and the team they will represent.
Schedule of Games
| MEN'S BASKETBALL – BLACK FIVES GAMES |
| Sat. |
Feb. |
1 |
1:00PM |
CREIGHTON |
AT |
VILLANOVA – FOX |
| Tue. |
Feb. |
4 |
6:30PM |
MARQUETTE |
AT |
ST. JOHN'S – FS1 |
| Tue. |
Feb. |
4 |
8:30PM |
GEORGETOWN |
AT |
XAVIER – FS1 |
| Wed |
Feb. |
5 |
6:30PM |
BUTLER |
AT |
SETON HALL – FS1 |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
5 |
9:00PM |
VILLANOVA |
AT |
DEPAUL – CBSSN |
| Fri. |
Feb. |
7 |
8:00PM |
ST. JOHN'S |
AT |
CONNECTICUT – FOX |
| Sat. |
Feb. |
8 |
12:00PM |
SETON HALL |
AT |
GEORGETOWN – FS1 |
| Sat. |
Feb. |
8 |
2:00PM |
MARQUETTE |
AT |
CREIGHTON – FOX |
| Sat. |
Feb. |
8 |
3:00PM |
PROVIDENCE |
AT |
BUTLER – PEACOCK |
| Tue. |
Feb. |
11 |
8:30PM |
DEPAUL |
AT |
MARQUETTE – PEACOCK |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
12 |
8:00PM |
XAVIER |
AT |
PROVIDENCE – PEACOCK |
| WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – BLACK FIVES GAMES |
| Wed. |
Jan. |
29 |
7:00PM |
CONNECTICUT |
AT |
DEPAUL – SNY |
| Sun. |
Feb. |
2 |
2:00PM |
XAVIER |
AT |
ST. JOHN'S – BEDN |
| Sun. |
Feb. |
2 |
2:00PM |
MARQUETTE |
AT |
VILLANOVA – BEDN |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
5 |
7:00PM |
VILLANOVA |
AT |
BUTLER – BEDN |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
5 |
7:00PM |
SETON HALL |
AT |
CREIGHTON – BEDN |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
5 |
7:00PM |
GEORGETOWN |
AT |
XAVIER – BEDN |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
5 |
7:30PM |
ST. JOHN'S |
AT |
MARQUETTE – BEDN |
| Sat. |
Feb. |
8 |
2:00PM |
XAVIER |
AT |
SETON HALL – FS1 |
| Sun. |
Feb. |
9 |
12:00PM |
CONNECTICUT |
AT |
PROVIDENCE – CBSSN |
| Sun. |
Feb. |
9 |
2:00PM |
DEPAUL |
AT |
GEORGETOWN – BEDN |
| Wed. |
Feb. |
12 |
7:30PM |
ST. JOHN'S |
AT |
CONNECTICUT – SNY |
Times are listed in Eastern
Men's Basketball
BUTLER: Short's Café Five
UCONN: Alpha Physical Culture Club
CREIGHTON: Cudahy Rex
DEPAUL: Savoy Big Five
GEORGETOWN: Washington Bears
MARQUETTE: Milwaukee Colored Panthers
PROVIDENCE: Vandal Athletic Club
ST. JOHN'S: St. Christopher Club
SETON HALL: Owl Field Club
VILLANOVA: Philadelphia Panthers
XAVIER: Cincinnati Lion Tamers
Women's Basketball
BUTLER: Spartan Girls
UCONN: Hartford Tigerettes
CREIGHTON: Roamer Girls
DEPAUL: Club Store Co-Eds
GEORGETOWN: Germantown Hornets
MARQUETTE: Mysterious Girls Athletic Club
PROVIDENCE: Philadelphia Quick Steppers
ST. JOHN'S: Younger Set
SETON HALL: Jersey Girls
VILLANOVA: Tribune Girls
XAVIER: Savoy Colts
Learn more about these teams on the Black Fives Foundations website.