Ten Best Moments in Big East Tournament History

Victory in the Dome

Feb 1, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view before the start of a game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Syracuse Orange at the at Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Nowadays, when one thinks of the Big East tournament, Madison Square Garden immediately comes to mind, but the Big East tournament was not always played in the World’s Most Famous Arena.

In March of 1981, Leo Rautins led Syracuse to a conference tournament championship on their home floor at the Carrier Dome. This was the second season of the Big East, but it was the first season of basketball in the Carrier Dome. Twenty-eight years later, Leo’s son Andy Rautins played a key role in bringing home a conference tournament championship for Syracuse in 2009.