In a statement released on Monday night, the Big East Conference expressed its disappointment over the historically low number of schools selected for this year's NCAA tournament. The conference, along with many others, believed that several deserving teams were snubbed by the selection committee.

The Big East received just three tournament bids, marking its lowest total since 1993. St. John's, Seton Hall, and Providence, all 20-win teams, were notably left out of the tournament, despite their strong performances throughout the season.

In its statement, the Big East congratulated the three schools that were selected - UConn, Marquette, and Creighton. However, it also joined the chorus of criticism against the NCAA selection committee, expressing its disappointment that some worthy Big East teams were not selected.

The conference acknowledged the challenging job of the committee in selecting and seeding teams, particularly considering the upsets that occurred this year. They emphasized the high level of play in the Big East and vowed to work closely with their schools in the coming months to position the conference better for next year's tournament.

St. John's coach Rick Pitino, known for his outspokenness, took to social media to voice his support for Seton Hall, who finished with a 20-12 overall record and 13-7 in Big East play. Pitino believed that six teams from the conference deserved a spot in the field and criticized the committee for excluding Seton Hall, despite their impressive wins over top teams.

Ironically, Pitino and the Red Storm may have played a role in preventing Seton Hall's inclusion in the tournament after defeating them in the Big East tournament quarterfinals. Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway also expressed his disappointment, calling it disrespectful to the Big East and his team.

The NCAA selection committee stated that Seton Hall was among the first four teams left out, along with Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, and Indiana State. The committee chair, Charles McClelland, mentioned that five bids were "stolen" during conference tournaments, and one of those was intended for Indiana State, who fell in the final of the Missouri Valley tournament.

Despite the snubs, the three teams from the Big East that made it to the tournament received high seeds. UConn, the defending national champion, secured the top overall seed, while Marquette received a 2-seed, and Creighton a 3-seed. The Big East declared its pride in UConn's accomplishment and considered each of their teams legitimate contenders for a Final Four berth and another Big East national crown.

The disappointing number of selections for the Big East has sparked conversations about the selection process and the recognition of deserving teams. The conference now looks ahead to future seasons, aiming to ensure that the Big East is aptly represented in the prestigious March Madness tournament.