The Big East was a exhilarating ride, but after 34 years, Louisville dropped the curtain on the second greatest elimination tournament in college basketball, by claiming their second consecutive Big East championship over Syracuse.
At the midway point, Louisville walked into the locker room with its largest halftime deficit of the season before storming back. It was emblematic of a team that has fought through adversity. Lousiville alumni should be proud of their program's skyrocketing trajectory.
The Cardinals decided not to cut down the nets because the've got bigger fish to fry. Rick Pitino sees the bigger picture. The Cardinals don't boast any future NBA All-Stars, but this is an experienced unit with tournament glory in its DNA. Next season, Duke and UNC better guard their territory because the Tobacco Road conference is about to undergo a power shift when Syracuse and Louisville join their ranks.
Here's a retrospective of the Big East's greatest moments.
