The Big East and Madison Square Garden are poised to announce a multi-year extension that will keep the league's men's basketball tournament in the mecca of college basketball, a source told The Post.
The announcement could come as soon as today when the Big East holds its college basketball media day at the New York Athletic Club.
As of last night, lawyers were still reviewing final documents, but the source said there was a very optimistic feel surrounding the negotiations
The Big East is signed to play in the Garden through the 2015-2016 season. The new deal will extend the arrangement through the 2025-26 season, the source said.
Paul J. Bereswill
CARDINALS RULE: Rick Pitino coached the Louisville Cardinals to last season's Big East tourney title at Madison Square Garden.
Multiple calls to high-ranking officials at both organizations were not returned. The Post source said the two parties had been working for months on the new deal and that new Big East commissioner Mike Aresco had made it a priority.
Calls to Aresco were not returned.
The Big East has held its marquee event at the Garden every year since 1983, but there were questions about the long-term relationship after West Virginia went to the Big 12 and Pittsburgh and Syracuse said they would be joining the ACC in 2014.
That even prompted some preliminary chatter between the ACC and the Garden. Some ACC schools were in favor of bringing its tournament to the Garden. Those talks never gained any traction.
The Big East, buoyed by the addition of basketball powers Memphis and Temple, and the resurgence of Houston was more than enough to assure the Garden the tournament would continue to be a success.
Although the impending loss of Syracuse, which has won the league tournament five times, is significant, the Garden and the Big East believe the excitement generated by programs coming to New York for the first time, and some new rivalries will keep the tournament vibrant.
"Look, Nebraska stopped playing Oklahoma in football and the world didn't come to an end,'' said a highly placed college sports authority who was not privy to the deal. "Notre Dame just announced it's canceling the Michigan series; times change.
"Syracuse can't be replaced, but think about the first time Temple and Villanova play in the Garden, or Memphis and Louisville,'' the source said. "Those are going to be hot tickets.''
lenn.robbins@nypost.com
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