UConn vs. St. John’s: Friday Night Lights, Big East Bragging Rights, and a Rivalry That’s Heating Up Fast
Friday night at Madison Square Garden is already a special kind of energy - the Big East Tournament in March has made sure of that. But this year, the fireworks are starting early.
The stage is set for a heavyweight showdown: No. 3 UConn (22-1, 12-0 Big East) heads into the Garden to take on No.
22 St. John’s (17-5, 10-1) in what feels like the biggest Big East regular season game in years.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on FOX, and if you’re a fan of high-stakes college basketball, this one’s circled in red.
Let’s start with the obvious: UConn is rolling. The Huskies have rattled off 18 straight wins - their longest streak since the 1998-99 title team opened 19-0 - and they’re not just winning, they’re dismantling.
Their last two games were surgical: a 27-point rout of Creighton followed by a 32-point thumping of Xavier. And honestly, those margins could’ve been even wider.
But don’t sleep on St. John’s.
Since a head-scratching home loss to Providence on Jan. 3, the Red Storm have ripped off eight straight wins and 10 of their last 11. The margins have been tighter - five at Xavier, 12 at DePaul - but the bottom line is they’re just one game behind UConn in the Big East standings.
A win Friday night, and they leapfrog the Huskies atop the conference.
That’s the kind of swing game this is. As UConn head coach Dan Hurley put it, “Sometimes, you go into these games where you play the first of two on the road, and if you can get it, now you’ve got a two-game lead and the home game on the back end. You can really put yourself in a great position there.”
Translation: This one matters. A lot.
Two Teams Peaking, Two Coaches Clashing
This isn’t just about rankings and records. It’s about two programs with serious momentum, two rosters built for March, and two head coaches who - let’s just say - aren’t sending each other holiday cards.
On one side, you’ve got Hurley, the fiery tactician whose UConn squad has been a model of physicality and discipline. On the other, Rick Pitino, the Hall of Famer who’s already left his imprint on St. John’s in just his first season, bringing swagger, structure, and a whole lot of edge.
Their history is already spicy. Last year, UConn beat Pitino four times - once while he was at Iona, three times after he took over at St.
John’s - on their way to back-to-back national titles. But Pitino got his revenge last season, sweeping UConn en route to a Big East title.
Add in a few media jabs, a memorable moment involving a red blazer and double-technicals during the 2024 Big East Tournament, and you’ve got the makings of a rivalry that’s heating up fast.
And this isn’t just noise. These are two teams with legit championship aspirations.
UConn went 18-2 in Big East play last season and won the conference tournament. St.
John’s matched that mark last year. Both programs are gunning for that top spot again - and maybe more.
Matchup to Watch: Physicality vs. Physicality
UConn’s recent dominance has come in part thanks to lineup tweaks, including the insertion of Dillon Mitchell. Hurley praised Mitchell’s impact on defense, rebounding, and overall athleticism. Add in the presence of Bryce Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor, and you’ve got a frontcourt that plays with grown-man strength - exactly the kind of physicality that thrives in Big East play.
“They’re like men,” Hurley said. “They play with great physicality, and that plays really well in Big East Conference play.”
St. John’s isn’t lacking in that department either.
They’ve shown they can win ugly, grind out tight road games, and make the most of their possessions late. This one could come down to which team imposes their will - and who blinks first.
Big Picture: NCAA Seeding, Player of the Year, and More
This game also carries serious NCAA Tournament implications. Shockingly, it’s just UConn’s second Quad 1 opportunity since Big East play began.
With only three more left on the schedule - at Butler (Feb. 11), at Villanova (Feb. 21), and the rematch with St. John’s in Hartford (Feb. 25) - the Huskies need to capitalize if they want to lock in a No. 1 seed come March.
Individually, there’s plenty of star power on display. UConn has multiple players - Silas Demary Jr., Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr. - who could make a case for Big East Player of the Year.
Ejiofor’s name belongs in that conversation too. But as Hurley made clear, that’s not the focus.
“If anything, you’re talking about team things,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of great opportunities. If we want to be a top seed in the tournament, Big East ramifications … but not individual.”
Friday Night at the Garden: What More Could You Want?
This is the kind of game that defines seasons. Two top-25 teams.
Two programs with championship DNA. Two coaches with a history.
And it’s all going down under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, on a Friday night in February.
And if we’re lucky? Maybe we’ll get a sequel in March. Same building, even higher stakes.
But first, there’s business to settle. UConn.
St. John’s.
Hurley. Pitino.
Let’s go.