Prior to 2009, the Big East Tournament only included the top 12 teams. During the 2002–03 season, West Virginia qualified for the tournament in their final conference game of the season by beating to secure 6th place in the western division. The team had improved from 8–20 to finish the regular season at 14–14 (5–11 Big East) under Beilein. The team lost in the first round of the 2003 Big East Tournament to by a 73–50 margin to end their season.