The top-heavy Big East Tournament, once again set to be staged at Madison Square Garden, is headlined by the antics of St. John’s and UConn.
The college basketball world’s greatest Garden party is about to get underway.
(Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Madison Square Garden is set to once again host the Big East Tournament, a hallowed duty it has held since 1983. Traditional powers St. John’s and UConn are leading the way, dominating conference play with a combined 35 wins.
The Red Storm stands as the defending champions after ending a quarter-century drought last time around while the Huskies are looking to break a tie with Georgetown for the most tournament titles in the event’s storied history. Behind them stands a hodgepodge of elite hardwood talents, some of which are looking to further seal their March fates. Ballislife has you covered with each competitor and their story below …
The 2026 Big East Tournament Bracket. pic.twitter.com/3g05buXKT9
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2026
1. St. John’s Red Storm (25-5, 18-2)
Head Coach: Rick Pitino (3rd season, 76-24)
Players to Watch: Zuby Ejiofor (16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks), Bryce Hopkins (13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds), Oziyah Sellers (10.7 points), Dillon Mitchell (8.1 points, 3.1 assists)
Last Big East Championship: 2025
The Red Storm appeared to be quelled in the early going with a 9-5 start after beginning the year ranked fifth in the nation. A 13-game winning streak in conference play, not to mention the further emergence of Ejiofor (who graduated from the conference’s Most Improved Player to Defensive Player of the Year) and the Providence transfer Hopkins, restored the newly-found sanity in Queens/Manhattan and propelled them to 13th in the final regular season poll.
@StJohnsBBall STANDS ALONE
The Red Storm win the outright BIG EAST regular-season title. pic.twitter.com/qLVwIk3B6i
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 7, 2026
St. John’s became a target of the hardwood jesters after their infamous 72-40 defeat to UConn on Feb. 25 (which saw them miss their final 24 attempts from the field) but they recovered with three final wins that secured their second consecutive regular season title. Despite the success of the Pitino era, the Red Storm has plenty to prove this postseason after falling to Arkansas in the second of last year’s NCAA Tournament.
2. UConn Huskies (27-4, 17-3)
Head Coach: Dan Hurley (8th season, 192-73)
Players to Watch: Solo Ball (13.9 points, 3.4 rebounds), Tarris Reed Jr. (13.8 points, 8.0 rebounds), Alex Karaban (12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 47.9 field goal percentage), Silas Demary Jr. (11.1 points, 6.5 assists, 42.0 three-point percentage)
Last Big East Championship: 2024 (Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2025)
The UConn Huskies made the wrong kind of headlines in the end, falling to Marquette on the final day of the regular season that saw Hurley ejected for a physical confrontation with an official while arguing a foul call. That shouldn’t take the focus off the Huskies’ eclectic mix of transfers and homegrown talents, the latter category headlined by the continued efforts of Ball and Karaban, the leftovers from UConn’s national title team in 2024.
On This Day
16 years ago, St. John’s dominates UConn during the first round of the 2010 Big East Tournament.
(March 9, 2010) #SJUBB pic.twitter.com/UVmXptKhzV
— Johnnies Highlights (@JohnniesTape) March 9, 2026
Unlike last season’s mediocre march, the Huskies have remained stationed atop the national rankings for a good bit of this season. It feels like only a victory in the potential championship rubber match with St. John’s will be enough to secure an elusive No. 1 seed on the bigger bracket, giving UConn extra metropolitan incentive.
3. Villanova Wildcats (24-7, 15-5)
Head Coach: Kevin Willard (1st season)
Players to Watch: Tyler Perkins (13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds), Acaden Lewis (12.5 points, 5.3 assists), Duke Brennan (12.3 points, 10.5 rebounds)
Last Big East Championship: 2022
The Wildcats are up to postseason scratch again after the meandering antics of the Kyle Neptune era. Willard’s arrival saw Villanova work with several portal products (as well as the returning Perkins, the Big East’s newly-minted Most Improved Player), headlined by the nightly double-double antics of Brennan (who faced Willard’s Maryland program as a member of Grand Canyon in last year’s NCAA Tournament).
FINAL: Villanova (@novawbb) defeats Providence, 73-65, to advance to the Big East Tournament Semifinals. Jasmine Bascoe scored a career-high 31 points. Kennedy Henry recorded the first double-double of her career with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
It wasn’t an easy win for the… pic.twitter.com/mERAA0D61H
— David Szczepanski (@WXVUDavidS) March 8, 2026
While many believe that the Wildcats have done enough to secure their first Big Dance berth since 2022, their lack of a high-profile win is a bit concerning. Provided they handle business in round one, a prime opportunity likely awaits in the semifinals. The Wildcats were dealt a big blow in their last visit to MSG, as star Matt Hodge was lost to a torn ACL.
4. Seton Hall Pirates (20-11, 10-10)
Head Coach: Shaheen Holloway (4th season)
Players to Watch: Budd Clark (12.4 points, 4.7 assists), AJ Staton-McCray (12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds), Tajuan Simpkins (10.1 points)
Last Big East Championship: 2016 (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2022)
The Pirates more than doubled their win total from the prior season, thrust by a successful third-place showing at the Maui Invitational and a brief appearance in the Associated Press poll. But there are several glaring opportunities that they failed to plunder: despite a solid defensive effort headlined by the 6’10 freshman Najai Hines, the Pirates’ combined 0-6 mark against St. John’s, UConn, and Villanova sticks out to bracket creators at this time of year, even if the average margin of defeat was less than seven points.
“Every Big East coach knows, you CANNOT take your foot off the pedal [against Seton Hall].” @TheAndyKatz reports on “The Comeback Kids”: Shaheen Holloway’s @SetonHallMBB squad pic.twitter.com/zqk30OShEd
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) January 17, 2026
It’ll probably take a championship run to put them over the edge and even a mere appearance feels like window dressing at this point.
5. Creighton Bluejays (15-16, 9-11)
Head Coach: Greg McDermott (16th season, 365-187)
Players to Watch: Josh Dix (12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds), Austin Swartz (10.9 points), Jasen Green (10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds)
Last Big East Championship: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025)
The Bluejays’ latest conference tournament run carries a cloud of speculation, as some wonder if this is McDermott’s last run at the helm. Whether it’s through retirement or the lure of another major job remains to be seen (for his part, McDermott has named former High Point boss and current associated head coach Alan Huss his successor), but the Bluejays come in somewhat limping after some early buzz.
CREIGHTON STUNS NO. 5 UCONN ON ITS HOME FLOOR pic.twitter.com/2sxFQ7c9m6
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 19, 2026
They dropped eight of their last 11 contests entering Manhattan and have sorely missed the antics of sharpshooting sophomore Jackson McAndrew, who was limited to four games due to a foot injury. In a truly polarizing Big East, it feels like the Bluejays (who own wins over Seton Hall, UConn, and Villanova) have the best chance of adhering to the extremes and either reprise their role in the championship game or fall in their debut showing with no in-between.
6. DePaul Blue Demons (16-15, 8-12)
Head Coach: Chris Holtmann (2nd season, 14-20)
Players to Watch: CJ Gunn (13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals), NJ Benson (11.7 points, 7.6 rebounds), Brandon Maclin (10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds)
Last Big East Championship: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2004)
When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose, and that’s perfect for the chaos demons of March. In the Big East, that title belongs to DePaul, which has a chance to secure just its third winning season since entering the Big East in 2005.
Big East Tournament Winner Odds.
UConn -115
St.John’s +190
Villanova +700
Seton Hall +1700
Creighton +5000
Providence +6500
Marquette +6500
Butler +10000
Georgetown +10000
DePaul +10000
Xavier +20000
Via @FDSportsbook.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 10, 2026
If anything, Holtmann’s arrival from Ohio State has brought some long-sought hope to a downtrodden program. That didn’t do much to lift them out of the realm of the first round but it does give them a sense of healthy reckless abandon where he previously penned so many March surprises.
7. Marquette Golden Eagles (12-19, 7-13)
Head Coach: Shaka Smart (5th season, 110-60)
Players to Watch: Nigel James Jr. (16.4 points, 4.8 assists), Chase Ross (14.2 points, 4.1 rebounds), Royce Parnham (12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds)
Last Big East Championship: 2023 (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025)
If one believes in momentum and getting hot at the right time, the Golden Eagles may be flying high in that category: Marquette won three of its final four games (including the aforementioned chaotic finale) primarily propelled by the breakout of the freshman James and a strong defensive effort led by the Big East’s leading burglar in Ross.
CHAOS AT THE END OF MARQUETTE AND UConn
Dan Hurley is ejected with just under 1 second left to play! pic.twitter.com/znrwGEPpLo
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 7, 2026
The Golden Eagles’ downfall, more than likely assured their first losing season of the Smart era, was partly brought about by absences, such as the foot ailment to junior Sean Jones and the outright departure of Zaide Lowery.
8. Butler Bulldogs (16-15, 7-13)
Head Coach: Thad Matta (4th season, 63-68)
Players to Watch: Finley Bizjack (17.1 points), Michael Ajayi (16.3 points, 11.1 rebounds), Jamie Kaiser Jr. (9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds)
Last Big East Championship: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018)
Dealt their sixth consecutive losing season in the Big East, the Bulldogs at least enjoyed the high-scoring antics of the tenured Bizjack and the Gonzaga import Ajayi. They placed third in points this season behind only St. John’s and first round opponent Providence but defense has been a major issue as they give up over 77 a game.
“Cash, man, they need money…. I know what they spent. He should be the Big East Coach of the Year.”
Dan Hurley heaped praise on Thad Matta for what he’s done with limited resources at Butler
— Mostly Hoops With Mark Titus & Co. (@MostlyHoopsShow) February 12, 2026
With the Bulldogs still reeling from the medically-induced loss of Jalen Jackson, it feels like the only certainty in Indianapolis would be to bet the over in their opening tilt.
9. Providence Friars (14-17, 7-13)
Head Coach: Kim English (3rd season, 45-48)
Players to Watch: Jaylin Sellers (18.1 points, 4.0 rebounds), Jason Edwards (16.5 points), Stefan Vaaks (15.2 points, 3.3 assists)
Last Big East Championship: 2014 (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2023)
Only adding to the potential high-scoring nature of the tournament-opening game against the Bulldogs is the presence of the conference’s leading scorer in Sellers and the 3-point prowess of Vaaks, not to mention the hype of touted freshman Jamier Jones.
ST JOHNS & PROVIDENCE CAME TO BLOWS
The Big East is so back. pic.twitter.com/M2n8F9fLW3
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) February 14, 2026
This tournament is set to be the last stand for English, who is said to be on his way out after struggling to capitalize on the momentum established in his debut tour. For all their flaws, the Friars emerged victorious in their last visit to MSG, earning an upset of St. John’s between 7th and 8th Avenue.
10. Xavier Musketeers (14-17, 6-14)
Head Coach: Richard Pitino (1st season)
Players to Watch: Tre Carroll (18.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks), Jovan Milicevic (12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds), Malik Messina-Moore (10.9 points, 3.9 assists)
Last Big East Championship: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025)
The Musketeers’ attempt to pull off an improbable upset is hounded by rumors: the status over the undeniable star Carroll (who missed the regular season finale against Villanova with a hip injury) is scary enough but some have questioned whether the junior Pitino would succeed his father at Providence.
Xavier’s ball movement, headlined by the work of the Montana transfer Messina-Moore, could keep it in the game, but ultimately the case of advancement will more than likely come down to Carroll’s potential participation.
11. Georgetown Hoyas (14-17, 6-14)
Head Coach: Ed Cooley (3rd season, 41-56)
Players to Watch: Malik Mack (13.7 points, 4.2 assists), Vince Iwuchukwu (11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds), Caleb Williams (9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds)
Last Big East Championship: 2021
Rounding out the field are the Hoyas, who have yet to reap the benefits of the Cooley era in year three. There’s still not much distance between Georgetown and its last instance of Garden shock in 2021 but there’s not much to suggest they’re well-equipped for that journey, especially on the defensive end. Making things all the more difficult is the late loss of Lewis, as last week’s ankle injury will cost him the rest of the season.
Outlook
March is a time for upsets and surprises but it feels like the Big East’s top-heavy nature is relatively ironclad this time around. There could be room for a few surprises (the sheer offensive firepower alone in the Butler-Providence opener should give one of the teams on bye a bit of a scare, as should the DePaul group with nothing to lose in round three) while Villanova and Seton Hall are looking to finish off various stages of an NCAA Tournament Sunday.
But for what both the Huskies and Red Storm have accomplished this season, it feels foolhardy to ignore them. The two sides played a couple of high-profile matchups last time around but it was clear that the Huskies put up the more emphatic victory. It’s safe to assume that St. John’s won’t engage in another dire drought but UConn’s extra firepower on both sides of the ball feels like a little too much to overcome, especially at this time of year.
Prediction: UConn over St. John’s
Schedule
First Round: Wednesday, March 11
(8) Butler vs. (9) Providence, 4 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN
(7) Marquette vs. (10) Xavier, 6:30 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN
(6) DePaul vs. (11) Georgetown, 9 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 12
(1) St. John’s vs. BUT/PC, 12 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN
(4) Seton Hall vs. (5) Creighton, 2:30 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN
(2) UConn vs. MU/XAV, 7 p.m. ET, FS1
(3) Villanova vs. DEP/GT, 9:30 p.m. ET, FS1
Semifinals: Friday, March 13
Semifinal 1, 5:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Semifinal 2, 8 p.m. ET, FS1
Championship Game: Saturday, March 14
TBD, 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
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