The 2013 tournament was the last tournament for the Big East in its original form . Following a prolonged period of turnover in the conference membership , culminating in a split of the conference along football lines effective in July 2013 , the Big East name was assumed by the seven schools of the original Big East that do not sponsor FBS football ( a group colloquially called either the " Basketball 7 " or the " Catholic 7 " ) . The FBS schools retained the old Big East 's structure and charter and joined with several other schools to form the American Athletic Conference . As part of the deal , the new Big East retained the rights to the conference tournament in New York City , even though The American is the old Big East 's legal successor
in its original form
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2014 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament