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Big East Men's Basketball Tournament Preview: UConn and St. John's Poised for Rematch
The 2026 Big East tournament tips off this week at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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The Big East tournament features a potential rematch between top contenders UConn and St. John's, who both had strong regular seasons. While other teams like Villanova, Creighton, and Seton Hall could make some noise, the conference title appears to be a two-team race between the Huskies and the Red Storm.
Why it matters
The Big East tournament is one of the premier events in college basketball, showcasing some of the best teams and players in the nation. A potential UConn-St. John's championship matchup would be a highly anticipated clash between two of the conference's powerhouses and could have major implications for their NCAA tournament seeding.
The details
UConn had largely dominated the Big East for much of the season, but late-season losses to unranked teams allowed St. John's to surge ahead in the standings. The Red Storm won 16 of their last 17 games after some early losses to ranked opponents. While teams like Villanova, Creighton, and Seton Hall could make some noise, the tournament appears to be a two-team race between the Huskies and the Red Storm.
- The Big East tournament runs from March 11-14, 2026.
- The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The players
Rick Pitino
Head coach of the St. John's Red Storm.
UConn
The University of Connecticut men's basketball team, a perennial Big East powerhouse.
St. John's Red Storm
The men's basketball team of St. John's University, which had a strong regular season and is poised for a deep tournament run.
Villanova
The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, which finished the regular season with a 24-7 record and is expected to make the NCAA tournament.
Creighton
The Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team, which could be a dark horse contender in the Big East tournament.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)
What’s next
Assuming all goes according to plan, expect a thrilling third rematch between the Huskies and the Red Storm come Saturday night.
The takeaway
The Big East tournament promises to be an exciting event, with UConn and St. John's emerging as the clear favorites to meet in the championship game. While other teams could pull off upsets, the conference title appears to be a two-team race between the Huskies and the Red Storm.
