Villanova basketball made $1.5 million profit in 2009-10

The men's basketball program at Villanova made a profit of $1.5 million in the 2009-10 academic year, according to Forbes magazine.

Villanova's program brought in $7.6 million in revenue, eighth in the Big East Conference. The Wildcats' expenses were $6.1 million, for a profit of $1.5 million, also eighth in the Big East. Forbes said its source for the financial information is the U.S. Department of Education.

Here is how the rest of the Big East ranks in terms of profitability: 1) Louisville, $16.8 million; 2) Syracuse, $10.2 million; 3) Pittsburgh, $7.0 million; 4) West Virginia, $6.9 million; 5) Marquette, $5.6 million; 6) Georgetown, $2.6 million; 7) Providence, $1.7 million; 8) Villanova, $1.5 million; 9) South Florida, $1.3 million; 10) Cincinnati, $1.1 million; 11) Connecticut, $804,242; 12) Rutgers, $138,879; 13) DePaul, Seton Hall and St. John's, no profit; 16) Notre Dame, minus $9,097.

The Big East earned more money from basketball than any of the other 13 Division I conferences, generating more than $154 million in revenue.

According to NCAA financial data, the Big East has earned $98.6 million from playing in the NCAA Tournament, $15.1 million a year, the highest in the country. *