Big East Basketball Tournament Bracket Projection

UConn and St. John's tied for No. 1 seed as conference tournament approaches

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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With the Big East Tournament just a week away, the conference standings are still taking shape as some teams have one or two regular-season games remaining. No. 4 UConn and No. 17 St. John's are currently tied for the No. 1 seed with 17-2 conference records, but the NET ranking will determine the top seed if they both finish 18-2. Seton Hall and DePaul have been surprise teams this season and are in line for first-round byes and top-five seeds, while Marquette will be playing in the first round for the first time under coach Shaka Smart.

Why it matters

The Big East Tournament is a marquee event in college basketball, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The seeding and matchups will have major implications for the teams' postseason hopes and paths. This preview provides insight into the current state of the conference standings and sets the stage for an exciting tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The details

UConn and St. John's are currently tied atop the Big East standings with 17-2 conference records. If they both finish 18-2, the NET ranking will determine the No. 1 seed, which UConn would likely win. Seton Hall and DePaul have been surprise teams this season and are in line for first-round byes and top-five seeds, while Marquette will be playing in the first round for the first time under coach Shaka Smart. The Big East Tournament begins on March 11 with a first-round tripleheader, leading up to the championship game on March 14.

  • The Big East Tournament returns to Madison Square Garden on March 11.
  • The championship game is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 14.

The players

UConn

The No. 4 ranked team in the country, currently tied for the Big East's No. 1 seed with a 17-2 conference record.

St. John's

The No. 17 ranked team in the country, currently tied for the Big East's No. 1 seed with a 17-2 conference record.

Seton Hall

A surprise team this season, in line for a first-round bye and top-five seed after being the No. 11 seed last year.

DePaul

Another surprise team this season, in line for a first-round bye and top-five seed after being the No. 10 seed last year.

Marquette

The Golden Eagles will be playing in the first round of the Big East Tournament for the first time under coach Shaka Smart.

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What’s next

The regular season concludes on Saturday, March 7, and the Big East Tournament bracket will be finalized. The first round begins on Wednesday, March 11 at Madison Square Garden.

The takeaway

The Big East Tournament is shaping up to be an exciting event, with UConn and St. John's battling for the top seed and several surprise teams making a push for high seeds and first-round byes. The tournament will have major implications for the teams' NCAA Tournament hopes and provide college basketball fans with a thrilling showcase at the iconic Madison Square Garden.