2018 – 19 Big East Conference men 's basketball season began with practices in October 2018 , followed by the start of the 2018 – 19 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season in November . This season marked the 40th year in the conference 's history , but the sixth as a non-football conference , which officially formed on July 1 , 2013 . Conference play began in December 2018 . The 2019 Big East Men 's Basketball Tournament was held at Madison Square Garden in New York from March 13 through March 17 , 2019 . Villanova defeated Seton Hall to win the tournament championship and receive the conference 's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament . Four Big East schools received bids to the NCAA Tournament ( Marquette , Seton Hall , St. John 's , and Villanova ) . Villanova was the only team to make it out the Round of 64 before losing to Purdue in the Round of 32
2019 Big East Men 's Basketball Tournament
2018 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
2018–19 Big East Conference men's basketball season