Temple coach John Chaney is no stranger to technical fouls. But last December, after Chaney got a "T" near the end of a game against Penn, another cherry-suited Owl gave an encore performance, attacking a ref and picking up a second technical in under a minute. This time, however, the "T" went to "Hooter," the Temple mascot. After throwing a finger in the official's face, Hooter was promptly T'd up and ejected from the game.

Welcome to Philadelphia college basketball, where even the mascots get fouls.

In this particular game, Hooter's overzealous behavior can be explained with two short words: Big Five. Also known as "the best conference that doesn't actually exist," the Big Five was formed in 1955 as an unofficial league, where Philadelphia-area schools could compete in round-robin series for the city championship. Comprised of Villanova, Saint Joseph's, Temple, La Salle, and Penn, the Big Five has one of the most unusual college basketball traditions in the country.

From 1955 to 1986, the city series made its home at the Palestra, Penn's storied gymnasium. "The Big House" has hosted Big Five doubleheaders, upsets over national powerhouses, and more NCAA tournament games than any other facility. Although some of the Palestra traditions - like streamers thrown onto the court after a team's first basket - have been shelved in recent years, fans still employ clever rollouts (large banners that detail players' personal lives) and taunting cheers to give Big Five games a suitably raucous atmosphere.

There's plenty to see off the court, too. Three years ago, the Palestra was given a facelift, its corridors turned into a museum devoted to Philadelphia basketball. Walking around the gym's hallowed halls, you'll find Villanova's national championship banner, life-size pictures of Philly natives Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, and a proclamation from former mayor (and current governor) Ed Rendell, declaring Philadelphia to be "the capital of college basketball."

Although the Palestra no longer hosts all of the city series contests, it's still the best place to watch a game. Last year marked the first ever Big Five tripleheader, a Palestra event that was covered by ESPN. The "Big Five Classic" won deserved praise for two reasons: long-neglected Drexel was finally included in the city series, and fans were reacquainted with the thrill of seeing all of Philadelphia's teams play each other under the same roof. This year, the Classic will be held on December 7, with the following games scheduled: Villanova/La Salle, Penn/Temple, and St. Joe's/Drexel. The Quakers will try to defend their Big Five title, Villanova may assert itself as the next Philly powerhouse, and the St. Joe's Hawk will reprise its menacing figure-eight ballet.

So mark your calendars - the 2002-2003 season is only a few short weeks away. Judging by preseason reports, there's plenty for Philadelphians to be excited about. And please, for your own sake, try to stay on Hooter's good side.

Preseason Roundup

Pennsylvania
After a disappointing season two years ago, the Quakers swept the Big Five last year, on their way to a stellar 25-7 record. Though the city teams weren't much of a challenge, Penn was tested elsewhere, in the most unlikely of places - the Ivy League. The normally lackluster, non-scholarship conference finished the season in a three-way tie for first place, with Yale, Princeton and Penn battling in a playoff for the automatic NCAA bid. These unusual circumstances gave the league its first-ever postseason tournament, and Penn was the ultimate victor.

This year, Penn returns almost all of its firepower (99.5 percent, to be precise), and the same starters who went to the Tournament hope to avenge last season's first round loss. Forward Ugonna Onyekwe ("U" to his fans) is the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year. This year, he was named to the preseason All American list, and along with fellow senior Koko Archibong, he has a good chance of graduating to the NBA. Andrew Toole, the starting point guard, will once again steady the team with reliable assists and rock-solid perimeter shooting. Key games include Princeton (Feb. 11, Mar. 11), Yale (Feb. 14, Mar. 1) and USC (Jan. 11).

Villanova
If Penn is the team on the Big Five pedestal, then 'Nova is the team most likely to knock them off. In the off-season, second-year coach Jay Wright assembled a recruiting class that, by all accounts, is the best in the Big Five's history. First, there's Jason Fraser, a McDonald's All-American who most expected to go pro, but decided to go Main Line instead. Fellow forward Curtis Sumpter was the MVP of New York City's Catholic School League. Guard Randy Foye was the New Jersey Player of the Year. And that's only half of the incoming class!

Combined with the team's dependable seniors, Gary Buchanan, Ricky Wright and Andrew Sullivan, the Cats will do some damage in the Big Five. Considering that the team won almost 20 games without the incoming freshmen, there's no reason to think that 'Nova won't feast on its weakened Big East conference. At this point, it's always dubious to predict postseason success. But, for those keeping score, Villanova has won only two Tournament games in the past decade. This squad seems capable of duplicating those wins in a single year. Key games include Pittsburgh (Mar. 8), Connecticut (Jan. 24, Feb. 14) and Penn (Dec. 10).

St. Joseph's
Last year, St. Joe's returned its top four scorers from a squad that won 26 games. In November, they were in every Top 10 preseason poll you could find. Most experts predicted a repeat of their 2001 Sweet Sixteen run, at the very least. Most experts were wrong. After fumbling the season opener against Eastern Washington, the Hawks stumbled through the rest of the season, en route to a 19-12 mark. Marvin O'Connor, who had an outstanding junior season, never found his long-range jumper as a senior.

This year, the Hawks are playing without O'Connor, but this may ultimately be a good thing. Returning starter Jameer Nelson has developed into the best point guard in the Big Five, and he's proved himself more reliable than O'Connor. Like 'Nova, the Hawks' success will depend largely on new recruits namely 7'1" center Alexandre Sazonov and 6'11" forwards Dwayne Jones and Chris Cologer. All they have to do is replace the combined 5,000 points of last year's graduates. On the positive side, St. Joe's won't have to deal with any of those pesky high expectations this year. Key Games include Gonzaga (Dec. 31), Xavier (Mar. 5), Villanova (Feb. 2) and Penn (Jan. 25).

Temple
Temple also began the '01-'02 season with high hopes. The Owls returned most of the firepower from the previous year's Elite Eight team. But, just like St. Joe's, the team faltered in last season, ending with a 19-15 record. Fans hoped for coach Chaney's squad to make its trademark late-season run, but, alas, Temple lost to La Salle in the Atlantic 10 tournament. And so, the sixth winningest team in NCAA history was relegated to the NIT.

This year, the Owls return enough players that they are early favorites in the weak A-10 conference. However, unlike St. Joe's, there are no go-to players like Jameer Nelson on this year's Temple squad. For the team to succeed, senior Alex Westby will have to fill the enormous shoes vacated by Lynn Greer, last year's Big Five Player of the Year. Freshman Antywane Robinson and Maurice Collins may also become key players. As usual, the biggest challenge for the Owls is the notoriously treacherous schedule that coach John Chaney has lined up. On the calendar are NCAA finalist Indiana (Dec. 28), Illinois (Dec. 14), and Wisconsin (Jan. 2).

La Salle
A 15-17 record might not sound like an achievement, but after nine losing seasons, La Salle fans were happy to be close to .500. In the A-10 tournament, however, the Explorers outdid themselves by battling all the way to the semifinals a notable feat for first-year coach Billy Hahn. After the season, Hahn lost his two most potent scorers, Speedy Morris-era players Rasual Butler and Julian Blanks. It'll be hard to replace their combined 3,000 points, but if anyone is capable filling the void, it's Hahn. An exceptional recruiter, he's stacked the lineup with seven new faces.

Most promising are guard Jermaine Thomas and forward Steven Smith, who sat out last season as a non-qualifier. Thomas has already been voted to the A-10 all-rookie team. Along with sophomore guard Mike Cleaves and senior center Chukwunike Okasa, the newcomers may finally elevate the team out of the sub-.500 cellar. Important games: Cincinnati (Dec. 14), Xavier (Jan. 14), and Penn (Jan. 28).

Drexel
Last year, just about everyone in the Colonial Athletic Association picked Drexel to come in dead last. First-year head coach Bruiser Flint was having none of that. His team ultimately finished with a 14-14 overall record, 11-7 in-conference, and third place in the league standings. Flint was deservedly anointed the CAA coach of the year. With virtually all of the team returning - including defensive player of the year Robert Battle and budding star Tim Whitworth (who scored 38 points against George Mason last year) - the Dragons should be able to challenge UNC Wilmington for the CAA title.