Chicago basketball tournament could develop
The concept of having an invitational tournament in Chicago between the five major universities seems to be gathering steam.
Several coaches have recently expressed their desire for the Chicago-based clubs to meet in a tournament every season. The tournament would be similar to the Philadelphia Big Five tournament, which is held every year and features the LaSalle Explorers, Pennsylvania
Quakers, Saint Joseph’s Hawks, Temple Owls and Villanova Wildcats.
The Chicago tournament would include the Illinois-Chicago Flames, DePaul Blue Demons, Loyola Ramblers, Northwestern Wildcats and the Chicago State Cougars, and would be played every year as an invitational tournament.
“I’m the new guy, so I can say anything,” joked DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell. “Just throwing it out as an idea, it’s an interesting idea [to hold an invitational.] I’m sure there are logistics that have to be worked out or can or cannot be worked out,
but I’d be interested in it.”
All five of the coaches appeared together in a press conference on Tuesday and every one of them seemed to be in support of a Chicago tournament. The coaches believe that a yearly competition would help bring more notoriety to the region and help develop
a more dynamic rivalry between the schools. In addition, it may also help to develop some of the Chicago programs, which have been struggling in recent years.
“Overall, I think it would be a good thing to do,” said Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell. “It would be a good thing for our basketball environment. Getting back to a college basketball town would be great. I’m a big Bull’s fan myself, but this would certainly
give a college basketball influence in the environment.”
Despite the immediate support the clubs will have to wait at least a year before it becomes possible as the 2010-11 season is set to begin on 8 November.
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