The Big 5 is bigger than any one person, so all must work together in order to preserve it. This is why Penn coach Fran Dunphy tells his student section to "show some class" as they are chiding La Salle -- chanting "No means no," in reference to this past summer's rape scandal. It is also the reason why Drexel students were the first to applaud their opponents after a moment of silence honoring a St. Joseph's student who suddenly died over Thanksgiving break. And it's why the announcement of Palestra janitor Dan Harrell's birthday led to a standing ovation from the entire arena.

"It made it seem like the St. John's administration was out of touch with the basketball program," says someone familiar with the negotiations. "It was like they still envision themselves being the elite program from the mid-'80s. And it showed that these people did not understand how important the building is in recruiting."