First off, I understand what Drexel coach Bruiser Flint meant when he said he wants other city teams to play games at the DAC, as Penn did Tuesday morning in ESPN’s Made-for-Tuition-Wasting Special. But I dunno. I’m pretty much of the opinion that as many city games as possible should be played at the Palestra, just because. That includes whenever Drexel’s involved. The building really is that important. Of course, as to the reality of that actually happening…

But did Drexel really have to cancel classes for this? Because it did. I’m sure Drexel parents are delighted to know their hard-earned money is being spent on classes that get canceled so their children can spend a Tuesday morning watching a basketball game that boils down to bragging rights in University City. But for this I blame ESPN: The network’s 24-hour marathon of games is a continuation of the joke that big-time athletics has become. Academics? That’s, like, totally for suckers. And was it really necessary for Memphis and UMass to play at midnight to start the marathon? What are the odds any players on the Memphis team made their early classes Tuesday morning after that one wrapped up?

Link: Drexel beats Penn over breakfast [Philadelphia Daily News]

CLARIFICATION: As some readers have noted, Drexel University did not formally cancel classes so students and faculty could attend Tuesday morning’s game. Only some individual professors opted to do so.