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Events and Attractions

Big Ten Tournament's First Run At MSG Seen As Successful

Saturday’s crowd, bolstered by a Michigan-Michigan State semifinal, numbered 19,812Getty Images

The inaugural Big Ten Tournament at MSG "worked," as many of the league’s fan bases "turned out well, so much so that Saturday marked the tournament’s first session sellout" since the '14 Big Ten title game, according to Zach Osterman of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Saturday’s crowd, bolstered by a Michigan-Michigan State semifinal, "numbered 19,812, the largest at any Big Ten tournament game" since '13. The tournament "didn’t really seem to capture much energy" in DC last year. The Big Ten has "become one of college sports’ trend setters because of its willingness to push the envelope." It is "equally important to realize when something doesn’t work, and leave it in the waste basket." Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said of playing the event a week earlier than usual, "We won’t do it again this way, and I take responsibility for asking the coaches. If we can make it back to the Garden on a regular week, that’s great.” Osterman notes that would "seem to rule out a return" until at least '27, as the Big East’s contract with MSG "doesn’t run out" until '26. Purdue G Carsen Edwards said, "Crazy atmosphere. It's a blessing just to be here and have this opportunity. I really enjoy playing here." The tournament will be "back in the Midwest for at least the next four years, alternating between Chicago (next year) and Indianapolis in that time" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/5). In DC, Roman Stubbs notes there were "questions about how staging this tournament" in N.Y. for the first time "would be received, especially because holding it here pushed it up a week." The arena "wasn't quite that full Sunday, but it was plenty loud" for Michigan. (WASHINGTON POST, 3/5). Asked about the timing of the tournament, Michigan coach John Beilein said, “In a perfect world, it’d be great if we were playing on Thursday or Friday, but if we could sacrifice that to come to New York City, and win in Madison Square Garden, we’ll adjust. In a perfect world that would be great, but to play in this arena in front of that crowd, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us. It will be worth the wait" (N.Y. POST, 3/5).

DELANY VALIDATED: CBSSPORTS.com's Matt Norlander wrote Saturday's semifinal was "validation enough" for Delany, who "took a lot of heat over his push to get the Big Ten bracket in the Big Apple a week earlier than usual." The atmosphere in and around MSG this week "has been every bit on the level that we see annually for the Big East tournament, too." Delany's decision "was an out-and-out success." Things "worked out splendidly" for the conference, including Rutgers fans. Fans of the team "bought up a lot of tickets and were plenty loud on Thursday and Friday" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/4). In N.Y., Kevin Armstrong writes, "Gone are the days when New York was a one-tournament town." The Big Ten "led off the lineup, starting its five-day tournament in February to gain a foothold" in the market. Three more NCAA Tournament berths are "up for grabs in Gotham this week." The ACC will play 14 games "over five days and nights; the Big East will put on nine contests." Delany "planted stakes" in N.Y. with an "eye on the nation's largest market, and he got a sellout" on Saturday (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/5).

 

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