Top-Ranked UConn and St. John's Clash at Madison Square Garden

The Big East's two best teams face off in a highly anticipated matchup at the iconic New York venue.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The No. 3 UConn Huskies and the No. 22 St. John's Red Storm, the top two teams in the Big East, will meet on Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two programs, led by National Championship-winning head coaches, have a long-standing rivalry and are set to square off in a ranked-on-ranked matchup for the first time at the Garden since 2000.

Why it matters

This game represents a clash between the Big East's elite, with both teams vying for conference supremacy and a high NCAA Tournament seed. The rivalry between the two coaches adds extra intrigue, as does the historic venue of Madison Square Garden, which is synonymous with Big East basketball.

The details

UConn enters the game with a 22-1 record and a perfect 12-0 mark in Big East play, while St. John's is 17-5 overall and 10-1 in conference. The Red Storm swept the season series against the Huskies last year, the first time they've done so since the 1999-2000 season.

  • The game will tip off at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.

The players

UConn Huskies

The No. 3 ranked team in the country, led by Hall of Fame head coach Jim Calhoun, who has won multiple national titles with the program.

St. John's Red Storm

The No. 22 ranked team in the country, led by legendary head coach Lou Carnesecca, who has also won a national championship with the program.

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What’s next

Fans can follow live updates of the game on Rumble in the Garden's official social media accounts, and the site will also publish a full game recap and analysis after the final buzzer.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between the Big East's top two teams at the iconic Madison Square Garden will showcase the intense rivalry between UConn and St. John's, as well as the depth and competitiveness of the conference as a whole.