UConn and St. John's to Face Off in Big East Tournament Championship

The top two seeds in the Big East will battle for an automatic NCAA Tournament berth

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:51pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies will take on the top-seeded St. John's Red Storm in the Big East championship game on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in the Big East conference, with the winner securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. Both teams have had strong seasons and will be looking to cap them off with a conference tournament title.

The details

The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. UConn enters the game with a 29-4 overall record and a 17-3 mark in Big East play, while St. John's is 27-6 overall and 18-2 in conference.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The players

UConn Huskies

The No. 2 seed in the Big East tournament, UConn has had an impressive 29-4 season and is looking to earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid with a win.

St. John's Red Storm

The top seed in the Big East tournament, St. John's has compiled a 27-6 overall record and an 18-2 conference mark this season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is going to be a great matchup between two of the top teams in the Big East. Both UConn and St. John's have had tremendous seasons and will be battling hard for that automatic NCAA Tournament bid.”

— Jim Boeheim, Hall of Fame Head Coach (ESPN)

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-St. John's game will receive an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This Big East championship game features two of the top teams in the conference and will determine which squad earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Both UConn and St. John's have had impressive seasons and will be looking to cap them off with a conference title.