No. 3 UConn, No. 22 St. John's Clash for Big East Supremacy

Huskies and Red Storm put lengthy winning streaks on the line in highly anticipated matchup at Madison Square Garden

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:23pm

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The third-ranked UConn Huskies and 22nd-ranked St. John's Red Storm, two of the hottest teams in the Big East, will face off on Friday night at Madison Square Garden with conference supremacy on the line. UConn brings an 18-game winning streak into the game, while St. John's has won 8 straight. Both teams have been dominant in Big East play, setting up a highly anticipated showdown between the conference rivals.

Why it matters

This game is a crucial early-season clash between two of the top teams in the Big East, with major implications for the regular season conference title race. UConn and St. John's have been two of the best stories in college basketball this season, and the winner will establish themselves as the team to beat in the Big East.

The details

UConn has been led by the strong play of Silas Demary Jr., Tarris Reed Jr., and freshman Braylon Mullins, who have all been key contributors during the Huskies' 18-game winning streak. St. John's has responded to an early-season loss to Providence by reeling off 8 straight wins, with Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins leading the way for the Red Storm.

  • UConn's only loss came on November 19 against then-No. 4 Arizona.
  • St. John's lost to Providence on January 3, but has won 8 straight games since then.

The players

Silas Demary Jr.

UConn guard who has scored 47 points in his last 3 games while shooting 15-for-26 from the field.

Tarris Reed Jr.

UConn forward who is 19-for-20 from the field over his past 3 games and has 41 rebounds in his last 5 games.

Braylon Mullins

UConn freshman who is 6-of-13 from 3-point range in the past 2 games after sitting out against Providence with a concussion.

Zuby Ejiofor

St. John's forward who has led the team in scoring twice during their 8-game winning streak.

Bryce Hopkins

St. John's forward who scored 15 points in the Red Storm's most recent win over DePaul.

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What they’re saying

“For us, in our quest to win the regular season Big East championship, it's just the next game. Obviously we've been consistently strong this year, both in the nonconference and in conference play, and St. John's has picked up its play in Big East play.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

“I feel great about our momentum. We've obviously found our stride right now with pretty big wins against Xavier and Creighton. St. John's, really good team, really talented team, obviously well-coached and we're gonna treat it as another Big East game.”

— Alex Karaban, UConn Forward

“It's UConn Friday night. MSG. What more could you ask for? It's just two great programs going head to head, two great coaches. It's going to be exciting.”

— Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's Forward

“I think we're ready. I feel like we match up well. And it's a great matchup -- head to head -- and I think we'll be ready for it.”

— Bryce Hopkins, St. John's Forward

What’s next

The winner of Friday's game will take a big step towards securing the Big East regular season title, while the loser will have work to do to catch up in the standings.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the nation's top teams showcases the strength and depth of the Big East conference. Whichever team emerges victorious will cement their status as the team to beat in the conference race.