New York City enhanced its standing as the mecca of college basketball yesterday when the Atlantic 10 Conference announced it will hold its league tournament in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn beginning in 2013.
It’s especially good news for Fordham, the lone NYC school in the Atlantic 10.
“I think from a league standpoint it’s a tremendous boost to have our tournament in the greatest city in the world,” Rams coach Tom Pecora said. “From our standpoint it’s great for our alumni and fan base who can follow us in postseason play.
“It’s a similar scenario to what St. John’s has with the Big East tournament being played in the Garden. Now we have our league tournament in Brooklyn. Everybody wins.”
Certainly, it’s a win for city college basketball fans.
Come 2013, they can watch the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Friday in Brooklyn then hop the train back into Manhattan to catch the Big East semifinals in the Garden. That Saturday the Atlantic 10 will have its semis during the day and the Big East will hold its title game at night.
The Atlantic 10 will then have the city stage to itself on Sunday when it plays its title game. That will lead fans into the “NCAA Tournament Selection Show” that night. The Atlantic 10 has had some terrific teams of late, including Dayton, Richmond, Temple and Xavier.
“What an experience for our guys to play our conference tournament in the NBA’s newest arena,” Xavier coach Chris Mack said. “Combined with the opportunity for fans to be in the city that never sleeps, our conference has done themselves right.”