The Big East tournament stakes have reached a fever pitch. UConn's surprising loss to Marquette has paved the way for St. John's to claim its second consecutive regular-season title, turning the Madison Square Garden showdown into a crucial opportunity for the Huskies to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Returning to the iconic "World’s Most Famous Arena" for the 44th year, St. John's aims to thrill their hometown fans once more, having ended a 25-year conference tournament drought last season.
But the road is far from easy. UConn is hungry, seeking redemption after splitting games with the Johnnies during the regular season.
Villanova, on the brink of their first NCAA appearance since 2022, and a few under-the-radar teams with standout scorers, add to the intrigue.
How to Catch the 2026 Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York City
- Dates: March 11-14
- TV Coverage: NBCSN, FS1, Fox
- Streaming: Peacock (March 11-12); Fubo (March 12-14)
- Tickets: Available on StubHub
Teams to Watch
UConn is on a mission of redemption. Last year's dreams of dynasty status slipped away during a 24-11 season, and the Huskies missed a historic three-peat.
This season, they've shown resilience, dropping just one game before conference play against Arizona in November. Their current record stands at 27-4, with recent losses to Creighton, St.
John’s, and Marquette. Coach Dan Hurley’s leadership is now more crucial than ever.
The Huskies boast one of the nation’s top defenses, led by standout guard Silas Demary Jr., who tops the conference with 6.5 assists per game, and senior big men Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. This trio made history by all earning spots on the All-Big East first team. However, Hurley's on-court decisions, including technical fouls and ejections, could be the biggest hurdle between UConn and another championship run.
St. John’s, under Rick Pitino’s guidance in his third season, is a formidable opponent.
Zuby Ejiofor, a unanimous Big East first-team selection, dominates both ends of the floor, creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Ejiofor's performance is pivotal, especially against top-tier teams.
He shone with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in their win over UConn, but struggled in their rematch.
While the UConn-St. John’s rivalry grabs headlines, Villanova is quietly making noise.
With a 24-7 record, they have five players averaging double-digit points, led by Tyler Perkins at 13.7 points per game. Duke Brennan, a 6-foot-10 senior, commands the boards with over 10 rebounds per game, making him a key factor in Villanova’s success.
Among the lower seeds, Providence stands out. As the No. 9 seed, they are the conference's highest-scoring team, featuring guard Jaylin Sellers, who leads the league with 18.1 points per game.
Despite their defensive struggles, Providence has already toppled St. John’s at MSG this season.
While a championship run might be a stretch, they’re more than capable of causing an upset.
Tournament Schedule
All times ET. Seedings included.
Wednesday, March 11 - First Round
- Game 1: No. 8 Butler vs.
No. 9 Providence, 4 p.m.
(Peacock/NBCSN)
- Game 2: No.
7 Marquette vs. No.
10 Xavier, 6:30 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)
- Game 3: No. 6 DePaul vs.
No. 11 Georgetown, 9 p.m.
(Peacock/NBCSN)
Thursday, March 12 - Quarterfinals
- Game 4: No. 1 St.
John’s vs. Game 1 winner, noon (Peacock/NBCSN)
- Game 5: No. 4 Seton Hall vs.
No. 5 Creighton, 2:30 p.m.
(Peacock/NBCSN)
- Game 6: No.
2 UConn vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
(FS1)
- Game 7: No.
3 Villanova vs. Game 3 winner, 9:30 p.m.
(FS1)
Friday, March 13 - Semifinals
- Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5:30 p.m.
(Fox)
- Game 9: Game 6 winner vs.
Game 7 winner, 8 p.m. (FS1)
Saturday, March 14 - Championship
- Broadcast: Fox
As the Big East tournament unfolds, fans can expect thrilling matchups and potential upsets, with each team vying for glory on one of basketball’s biggest stages.